What Self-Awareness Is — And How You Can Develop It

Are you able to see yourself realistically? Can you think about yourself from an objective point of view — one that includes the good, the bad, the ugly, and the mediocre?

Maybe you answered “yes”. Maybe you answered “no”. Maybe you answered “of course!” but still feel a little nudge in the back of your brain that says “are you sure?”

Here’s the thing: it’s hard to see ourselves as we actually are. Sure, it’s hard to know our blind spots — they’re called “blind” spots for a reason, after all — but many people also don’t fully recognize the things that they are good at.

Lack of self-awareness is common, and it makes it difficult for us to sense our blind spots, but it also keeps us from figuring out what we are rock-stars at and how to hone those skills. Self-awareness helps us track down where we’re blocked, identify where and why we react instinctively instead of responding thoughtfully, and critically examine information that challenges us.

Are You Actually Self-Aware?

So let me ask you again whether you think you’re self-aware, but this time, we’ll get into the details. When I ask you “are you self-aware?” what I’m actually asking you is, “do you know your triggers?”, “can you take feedback?” and “do you know what you’re good at?”