We’re self-aware about things that are positive about us, like “my dress is gorgeous” or “I have a good height”. But we’re not self-aware about things that concern us negatively rather we try to ignore, resist, or hide away from those features about us, like “I’m always the one who’s late” or “I never submit my work on time”.
It is hard to accept those parts about us & I won’t deny that. Nobody is perfect but listen, nobody must be. Because being perfect is a flaw. So, let us focus on improving rather than try to make ourselves perfect. Because trying to accomplish something that is just an illusion will take us nowhere.
One example of perfect is social media. Social Media is the real example of what we call perfect. We look at these profiles, followers, picture & video feeds, people’s clothes but it’s nothing but then just an illusion of being perfect. Nobody is like that in real life. This is just a distraction for a while.
So, how can we be more self-aware about ourselves? Here are few things to keep in mind:
1. Accept yourself as you are. There are going to be parts of you that you don’t like but accepting them (& it takes time) will you grow & be more self-aware.
2. Practice mindfulness. We generally are not aware of what’s going on because we’ve lost our thoughts. Being present helps you to observe & everything in front of you.
3. Apologize for your habits that are problematic (like being late), this makes you self-aware & on your feet. It will help you replace those habits with the correct ones.
4. Noticing every little thing you do (like brushing your teeth), will help you form a habit & not get missing in your thoughts.
5. Decide if you want to make a change (or not). Everything about you doesn’t have to be something you have to change, shift, fix, overcome, or do better. It’s ok to just be you, and not be a constant self-improvement project.
A few journals prompt to start with:
1) If you were brave enough, to be honest with yourself, what are your worst qualities?
2) How have your worst qualities impacted your relationships with others and with yourself?
3) Do you want to improve those things?