How Well Do You Know Yourself?
Most people’s lives are filled with to-do lists and maintaining the status quo in order to get through the week. It’s not often that we get a moment to reflect on ourselves; exploring your needs, emotions, or aspirations. We get stuck on autopilot, without time to understand our successes & failures, or to figure out what troubles & inspires us. Our minds are so full of noise, that the only things that get our attention is when something goes wrong or another person demands our attention.
So, how well do you REALLY know yourself? Chances are, you probably do not understand yourself as well as you think you do. Research shows that when people try to assess themselves accurately, they tend to pay more attention to what others think, or more correctly, on what they perceive others think about them. It’s easy to lose touch with your actual core values and needs, which in turn make it difficult to make choices in life that bring you happiness and fulfillment.
BENEFITS OF KNOWING YOURSELF BETTER
Less inner conflict –feeling confident about what you value rather than doubting yourself or trying to live up to others’ expectations of who you “should” be
Ability to set intentions – knowing what is important to you helps you tap into what you hope to accomplish and guides you in living with more purpose and direction
Perspective – learning what really matters most to you
Better decision-making – when you know yourself, choices get easier
Ability to more accurately express your emotions and needs
Exploring who you are on a deeper level requires some work… but it’s doable and is worth the effort! Start by creating time and space daily, to connect with yourself. No distractions, just time to reflect.
HOW TO ACCESS SELF-AWARENESS
Think about big decisions you’ve made in your life. What led you to those choices? Which felt like pressure from others and which were true expressions of who you are? What felt “right”?
Explore your values. Things like: being acknowledged, belonging, individuality, safety, learning, communication, structure or equity.
Pay attention to what interests you. When do you get excited? What leads you to lose track of time? What seems to drag you down or feel like a chore?
Journal; process your emotions & thoughts in writing. Record your inner state without judgment.
Challenge irrational or distorted thinking. Take your inner critic to task. Seek new perspectives.
Talk to someone you trust. Ask them for objective feedback and observations.
Being disconnected from your true self can lead to depression, anxiety and lower self-esteem. Self-awareness helps you to better know what you believe & value, which enables you to move forward through life with a stronger foundation and confidence.