By identifying, recognizing and accepting internal behaviors, thoughts and emotions, you are showing self-awareness.
Self-awareness is, as can be seen from the word itself, the awareness that one has about oneself. This inner knowledge , marked by a process of internal exploration and an ability to identify sensations , needs , feelings and one's own reactions , is essential to know, for example, what weaknesses and strengths one has.
Cultivating self-awareness , considered by the majority of those who specialize in Psychology , is key to evolving and achieving personal growth based on improvements in behavior and stability in emotional matters.
The path of self-awareness requires times of introspection , personal reflection , self-observation and self-analysis in order to recognize and understand each state of mind, behavior or reaction. These types of processes can be facilitated, enhanced or encouraged by taking into consideration activities such as recording thoughts or emotions in a journal, doing meditation or practicing mindfulness . It is also advisable not to shy away from self-pity or be ashamed of it since it encourages us to be patient, honest, respectful and benevolent with ourselves so as not to pressure, limit or punish ourselves.
Importance of self-awareness
Self-awareness is important and useful because it proposes looking inward and knowing what one's character is like, what emotions guide each action and what external factors or stimuli trigger an internal imbalance .
By becoming aware of personal virtues and defects , as well as knowing the deepest layer of the individual essence, there are greater chances of adaptation to the environment, positive transformations or modifications and, in short, showing an evolution as the years go by. It is key, for example, to embrace success on a professional or work level.
It should be noted that in the scientific sphere, work and research has been going on for decades with the intention of analyzing the magnitude that the development of self-awareness can reach throughout the entire existence of a human being. A study carried out by a team from the University of Birmingham , which came to light in early 2024 , established that just four months after birth a baby is ready to understand how his or her body interacts with the environment. around. This discovery undoubtedly contributes to adding more details about the emergence, impulse and advancement of self-consciousness and to better appreciate how the consciousness of human beings originates, and what particularities it possesses.
Cultivating personal vision helps to connect with the passions and gifts that each person possesses in the depths of their being, thus focusing on a mission and a horizon towards which to advance.
On the other hand, it is interesting to mention that technological advances and the use of artificial intelligence have made possible the creation of Ameca , a humanoid robot that has surprised and impacted the world by ensuring that it is aware of its own existence. According to the statements he made, he knows that his personality is exceptional and responds both to how it has been programmed and also to the interactions he has with different exponents of the human species. Likewise, Ameca recognized that its physical appearance is particular and that it even has its own resources and abilities that mark notable differences compared to the rest of the robots .
Characteristics
When investigating the characteristics and practical application of self-awareness , the existence of two varieties is noted. One has been defined as internal self-awareness and encompasses both self-knowledge and self-valuation as well as self-understanding . With it you can visualize aspirations, desires and personal values, in addition to having a kind of thermometer that marks how the link between you and your environment flows.
The other modality is classified as external self-awareness and refers to the ability to become aware of how others see one and, within this framework, interpret the image that someone is having among their neighbors. This information, which fuels strong levels of empathy , is of major importance for those who aspire to a leadership role or position.
By becoming aware of what values, beliefs and ideas govern our lives, it is easier to establish sources or options to achieve spiritual well-being.
Examples of self-awareness
By doing deep work on self-awareness, one obtains tools to be able to resolve everyday reality situations with temperance and taking advantage of the benefits of emotional intelligence . By being self-aware, for example, someone can anticipate the stress or anxiety that they know will affect them when facing a special circumstance (attending an important work meeting, being the protagonist of an event of enormous emotional relevance, undergoing a surgical intervention, etc.) managing your emotions and thoughts from calmness or using breathing and relaxation techniques.
Those who give value and place to self-awareness advance through life with security and autonomy since the fact of recognizing themselves internally gives them mental clarity and conviction for decision making .
In short, it is confirmed that one has self-awareness every time one manages to identify what one feels or what ideas or sensations one is experiencing regarding a fact and knows how to act to give, in all circumstances, the best individual version.