What is self-awareness? How do you improve it? And why is it important?
Before even beginning your wellness journey, improving your mind, or strengthening your relationships, self-awareness is the foundation of everything you do. Yet, it’s not taught in schools or by anyone formally. But here’s the good news- it’s a skill you can learn and develop over time.
In this post, I won’t just explain what self-awareness is and why it matters- I want you to actually improve your self-awareness as you read along. To achieve that, I’ll be asking you thought-provoking questions, some of which may feel uncomfortable, but they’ll push you to understand yourself better- your likes, dislikes, emotions, and perspectives.
And that is crucial because the most valuable relationship you’ll ever have is the one with yourself.
What is Self-Awareness?
The term “self-awareness” can feel vague or overused, but let’s simplify it.
Think about it- we spend our lives getting to know our friends, partners, colleagues, and family members, understanding what they like, how they think, and what makes them happy.
But what about you?
Do you take the time to reflect and ask yourself:
✨ Who am I?
✨ How do I feel?
✨ What do I truly like?
Self-awareness is a lifelong journey- something you continually develop, not something you just “achieve” overnight. The stronger it becomes, the more clarity, authenticity, and control you’ll have over your life.
Why Is Self-Awareness Important?
To be honest, when I was younger, in fact till a few years back, I didn’t care about self-awareness. I didn’t see why it mattered. But as I grew older and applied it, I realized that:
✅ Self-awareness helps you navigate life more effectively.
✅ It allows you to shape your world based on what truly fulfills you.
✅ It improves your relationships, your health and your confidence.
When you know what you need and prefer, and you own that from a place of security and self-trust, life feels simpler and more joyful.
Self-awareness impacts everything in your life- from how you show up in relationships and take care of your health to the decisions you make and the way you handle challenges. Quite literally, the foundation of all our choices relies on how self-aware we are.
How To Start Developing Self-Awareness
The best way to start with self-awareness is to ask questions.
Reflection is key. Whether you journal, discuss with a friend, or simply think through them, asking yourself the right questions will open up deeper self-awareness.
Some questions are easy, while others push you outside your comfort zone- but both are equally valuable.
Let’s start with these few questions:
📌 1. How do you feel when you wake up?
✨ What is your first emotion in the morning?
✨ How do you feel about yourself and the world?
📌 2. Describe yourself in three words.
✨ What words best define who you are?
✨ What are the top three daily self-care acts you practice?
📌 3. How do you think others describe you?
✨ What’s your perception of how others see you?
✨ On a scale of 1-10, how much does others’ perception of you affect your life?
📌 4. What makes you feel most alive?
✨ What activities, people, or experiences bring you the most energy and joy?
✨ Explore and write five ways that will make you feel happy on a daily basis.
📌 5. What drains your energy?
✨ Identify situations, people, or habits that leave you feeling exhausted.
✨ Reflect and identify three ways in which you can handle these stressful situations better.
📌 6. When do you feel most powerful?
✨ Define what power means to you and recall a time you felt strong and unstoppable in the recent times.
✨ How can you define power in the area of health, relationship, career and money?
📌 7. When do you feel powerless?
✨ What situations make you feel weak or insecure?
✨ Look back at a recent incident that made you feel negative. Reflect on the thoughts you had—were they all true? How could you have handled the situation better?
📌 8. What compliment do you love hearing the most?
✨ Reflect on compliments you’ve received- why do they resonate with you?
✨ Make a list of five compliments you love to hear and five compliments that are nice but make you feel awkward.
📌 9. Do you like yourself? Why or why not?
✨ Take time to think about this deeply. Don’t answer this in a rush.
✨ What do you love about yourself?
✨ Why are you proud to be YOU?
✨ What are the five things you can improve in yourself to become a better human being and enjoy life more?
After going through these questions, you’ve already taken a huge step in self-awareness as every answer reveals something valuable about you.
We often overcomplicate personal growth, but at its core, self-awareness is just about paying attention to yourself- to your thoughts, emotions, and desires. Think of it as your inner GPS that guides you in the right direction. To make it work, you just need to:
✅ Regularly check in with yourself.
✅ Ask yourself uncomfortable but necessary questions.
✅ Accept truths about yourself- even the ones you don’t like.
For example, I once realized that I hate going out to late-night parties. My friends loved the vibe of loud music, drinking, and dancing- it was their idea of having fun and enjoying life. Without having much of an opinion, I just went along with it.
But when I sat down and asked myself, “Does this serve me?” I realized it didn’t. Now, I confidently say no because I value myself more than anything. I constantly check in with my self-awareness and gain clarity on my choices and what I truly want in life.
Owning my self-awareness allows me to make better decisions, whether it’s about how I spend my time or how I take care of my health.
Practical Ways To Strengthen Self-Awareness
Here are three must-do practices you should include in your daily routine:
1. Spend Time Alone (Without Distractions)
🍀 No phone. No TV. Just you and your thoughts.
🍀 Try solo dates. Go out for a dinner, a movie, or a walk alone.
2. Ask Yourself Questions Regularly
🍀 Reflect on your day: What energized me? What drained me?
🍀 Use journaling or voice notes to process your thoughts.
3. Be Present & Avoid Autopilot Mode
🍀 Instead of going through negative emotions, observe your reactions.
🍀 Pay attention to how activities, experiences, people, and habits make you feel.
The Fun Part Of Self-Awareness
The more you develop self-awareness, the more you’ll discover new things about yourself.
✅ You’ll realize your tastes change.
✅ You’ll attract different types of people.
✅ You’ll gain clarity on what truly matters to you.
✅ You’ll see how easy it is to gain clarity and redirect your life toward what you want.
✅ You’ll become a happier person.
Self-awareness isn’t just about understanding yourself today, it’s about staying curious and open as you evolve.
Start today by:
🎯 Answering the above questions.
🎯 Reflecting on your insights.
🎯 Taking action based on your self-awareness.
You can even share your answers below if you like or discuss them with a friend!
