Self Awareness – Your Journey to Meet Yourself (Part I)

Self Awareness

Your Journey to Meet Yourself – Part I

As human beings, we always look at a power outside of us to give meaning to our lives. We seldom look within and find the truth to justify the reason we live. Is it because we are lazy, or are we scared to look, lest we don't like what we find? Self-awareness, I would say, is the biggest gift one can give themselves. It is not hereditary or genetic. It is simply a practice. A practice of being honest with yourself and telling it as it is. How does one practice self-awareness then? Let's do this together. I'll teach you how I learned.

Step 1 – Question. Question. Question.

The first step is to question your reactions. See, we are each a bundle of thoughts, feelings, and triggers. If we have to understand more about what drives us, we need to begin by questioning what we are feeling.

• What is this reaction?
• What am I feeling?
• Why did I feel this way?
• What question or behaviour triggered this reaction within me?

Once you begin down the road of questioning your inner landscape, you begin to see the road ahead.

Step 2 – Curiosity

Okay, seeing the road ahead is great. But what is the point of questioning yourself if you do nothing about it?

So we come to Step 2 – Curiosity.

When you inspect the emotion you are suffering from, or even enjoying, with genuine curiosity, as you would when you were a child exploring a new game, the unbridled sense of excitement you felt when you discovered something new becomes your greatest teacher.

Use that same emotion to discover yourself.

• Ask yourself: What is this pain I feel?
• What is this sadness?
• What is this anger?
• Where does it come from?

Follow the road to Oz. You'll see that whatever you discover with curiosity becomes an adventure without judgement, rather than one filled with fear and weight.

Step 3 – Acknowledge

Now you've questioned what you are feeling. You have, with a sense of adventure and curiosity, explored the emotions you are living with. Why the joy? Why the pain? Why the sorrow?

The next step is acknowledgment. When you look at the entire construct and tell your mind, "Yes, I acknowledge its seed and its growth. I have walked down that path. I understand why it exists." You reach the step of acknowledgment. And then something beautiful happens.

When you accept the emotion as being present within your consciousness, the seed of self-awareness is born. This seed takes you through life's master plan.

It becomes a seed of awareness every time you experience an emotion, and every time you live another moment of your life. Therefore, self-awareness is the first step towards understanding consciousness and your existence.

Why was I born? And once awareness is born...

The next question becomes: What do I do with this thing called awareness?

Love,
Shwetambari

Frequently Asked Questions

What is self-awareness?

Self-awareness is the ability to observe your thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and reactions with honesty and curiosity. It helps you better understand yourself and make more conscious choices.

Why is self-awareness important?

Self-awareness helps improve emotional intelligence, decision-making, relationships, resilience, and personal growth by helping you understand why you think, feel, and behave the way you do.

How can I become more self-aware?

Practising self-questioning, developing curiosity about your emotions, acknowledging your experiences without judgment, journaling, mindfulness, and therapy are effective ways to cultivate self-awareness.

What is the connection between self-awareness and consciousness?

Self-awareness is often considered the first step toward understanding consciousness because it allows you to observe your inner experiences instead of reacting automatically.

Can mindfulness improve self-awareness?

Yes. Mindfulness helps you notice your thoughts and emotions without judgment, making it easier to understand behavioural patterns and emotional responses.

Is self-awareness a skill or a personality trait?

Self-awareness is a skill that can be developed through consistent practice, reflection, curiosity, and conscious observation.