MindWorks
An Awakening in Self-Awareness
Renita C. Gabriel, Psy.D., contributing editor
http://www.breakthroughspsycservices.com
When someone admonishes us to “wake-up” the implication is that we have been engaged in some sort of sleep either figuratively or literally. When we think about sleep from a literal standpoint, we envision being unaware of our current surroundings. During sleep, our bodies and minds are not engaged in the same level of activity (at least on a conscious level) as when we are alert. The mind and body are in a state of “rest.” Similarly, figuratively speaking, one who is “asleep” is unaware of some poignant truth. That individual is “inactive” because of his or her “slumber.” I would like to challenge us to reflect on those areas in our lives where we have been “asleep”. For instance, are there areas in our lives to which we need to attend? What is our thought life like? How about our spiritual life? What about our emotional health? These are just a few of the areas where we may be oblivious to an objective reality. This spring I would like to encourage us to become more aware of who we are and how we are in the world around us. What I am proposing is an awakening in our level of self-awareness.
Self-awareness is defined as the ability to recognize our own emotions and how they affect our thoughts and behaviors, as well as the ability to know our own strengths and weaknesses, and to have self-confidence (http://helpguide.org/mental/eq5_raising_emotional_intelligence.htm). Intuitively, it would seem that the benefit of becoming more self-aware is an enhancement of our own lives. However, the literature suggests that increased self-awareness not only positively impacts us as individuals, but also positively impacts the individuals and even the organizations with whom we interface (Coté, S. & Miners, C. T.H., 2006; Reeves, A., 2005). Consider, for example, the socially awkward coworker who has no insight into how his behavior negatively impacts his peers. While that coworker may be very proficient at the technical skills required to do his job, he is completely unaware of how his behavior alienates him from his peers. As a result, he may experience frustration and sadness at how his coworkers respond to him. The challenge to that coworker would be to reflect on his own thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and assess their relationship to the scenarios that occur at work and the reactions of his peers to him. With some practice and guidance in doing this, the coworker can increase his level of self-awareness and in turn improve his relationship with his peers.
Do you know what motivates you? What makes you tick? Would you like to enhance your relationships with others through having a deeper understanding of yourself? Consider the following TIP:
- Take time to self-reflect — Consider your thoughts, feelings and behaviors and the situations that promote them.
- Identify alternative ways of viewing a situation — Particularly if your tendency is to develop distorted thinking around a situation, consider a more neutral/realistic point of view.
- Practice self-awareness — Once you become more self-aware, you are able to take steps towards improving your relationships and ultimately your life.
References
Coté, S. & Miners, C. T. H. (2006). Emotional intelligence, cognitive intelligence and job performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 51(1), 1-28.
Reeves, A.(2005). Emotional intelligence: recognizing and regulating emotions. AAOHN Journal, 53 (4), 172-176.
