Self Awareness

Self-Awareness: Overview

Self-awareness is the ability to see ourselves clearly - to understand who we are, how others see us, and how we fit into the world. It's not just about introspection but also about understanding our impact on others.

What is Self-Awareness?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines self-awareness as "conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires."

Another definition of self-awareness was put forth by psychologists Robert Wicklund and Shelley Duval:

“The capacity to concentrate on oneself and determine whether or not your behaviours, ideas, or feelings are consistent with your internal standards is known as self-awareness. Highly self-aware people are able to assess themselves objectively, control their emotions, act in a way that is consistent with their ideals, and accurately gauge how other people see them."

Self-awareness and behaviour change

Self-awareness is often considered a critical first step in the behaviour change process.

Recognising the need for change requires awareness of one's ideas, feelings, behaviours, and repercussions on oneself and others. Self-awareness reveals behaviours that don't match one's aims or values and helps change them.

Anyone who wants to modify a habit or enhance a talent must first recognise their current habits and abilities. Setting realistic goals and tracking progress begins with this knowledge. Self-awareness helps people identify triggers and circumstances for unwanted behaviours, crucial for practical change efforts.

Many behaviour-change approaches, including Prochaska and DiClemente's Stages of Change, start with awareness of the problem before making changes. Thus, while self-awareness alone cannot change behaviour, it is a crucial first step towards personal transformation. Motivation, a strategy, and action are all needed.

Benefits of self-awareness

Self-awareness brings many benefits that can help your personal and work life. It makes us more proactive, more open-minded and helps us grow as people. Being self-aware helps us see things from different points of view, control ourselves, and be proud of our accomplishments, all of which improve our ability to make decisions and get along with others. This essential skill not only makes us feel better about our abilities but also makes us happier at work and better at our job performance.

The Neuroscience of Self-Awareness

Self-Awareness and Consciousness: Are They the Same?

Self-awareness theory, which was put forward by psychologists Duval and Wicklund, is mostly about how people judge themselves concerning their standards and the world around them. It's about how people learn to notice themselves, reflect on what they notice, and change how they act based on what they find out. People think of this kind of self-reflection as a part of consciousness, especially the ability to see oneself as a unique person separate from others and the world.

Neuroscience theories of consciousness try to explain where awareness comes from and how it works. Self-awareness is one of many mental processes that make up consciousness. Most people think of it as the state or quality of being aware of something outside of oneself or something inside oneself. There are, therefore, more than just self-awareness aspects of consciousness. In neuroscience, theories of consciousness try to explain how conscious experience and awareness arise from the workings of the brain.

The Default Mode Network

The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a group of brain regions that are active when you're not focused on the outside world, often involved in self-referential thoughts and emotions and thinking about the past or imagining the future. The DMN shows lower levels of activity when you’re engaged in focused activities, problem-solving, or attention-demanding tasks.

Self-awareness is closely linked to the functions of the DMN because this network is engaged in self-referential processing.

Self-Reflection: The DMN is implicated in thinking about oneself, reflecting on one's characteristics, and formulating a narrative self, which is our story about who we are based on past experiences and future aspirations.
Theory of Mind: The DMN is active when individuals think about the thoughts and feelings of others, which is a key aspect of social self-awareness.
Autobiographical Memory: Retrieving and integrating personal memories, essential for maintaining a coherent sense of self over time, involves the DMN.
Prospection and Goal Setting: When people plan for the future and set personal goals, the DMN links one's current self with future possibilities.
Emotional Processing: The DMN works with emotional centres in the brain to help individuals understand and regulate their emotions, contributing to emotional self-awareness.
Thinking about Thinking (Meta-Cognition): Meta-cognition is thinking about our thinking. It's a higher-order thinking skill that involves self-regulation and self-awareness of our cognitive processes. It's like a mental "manager" overseeing our thoughts and actions.

Strategies for Improving Self-Awareness

Improving self-awareness is not just about introspection; it's about aligning our internal understanding with external perceptions. Here are some strategies:

Linking Goals to Self-Identity: Focus on who you want to become rather than what you want to achieve. This alignment can motivate you and make behaviour change more effective.
Sensory Awareness: Shift your focus to immediate sensory experiences. This practice can move the brain from the self-referential DMN-mode to a mode focused on sensation and perception.
Strength Identification: Identify your character strengths. Understanding and utilising these strengths can enhance well-being and reduce psychological distress. There are many useful online strength-spotting tools listed below in resources section below.
Understanding Your Values: Values are like a personal compass; they help us navigate the unpredictable parts of life by connecting us to what really matters. Knowing our values helps us become more self-aware, builds trust in relationships, and gives us the tools to live our lives with purpose and authenticity.

Relevance to Coaching Practice

Turning our focus to the impact of self-awareness, it's evident that the practice comes with many advantages,

It can render us more initiative-taking, heighten our acceptance, and foster positive personal growth.
Being self-aware empowers us to adopt other people's viewpoints, exercise self-discipline, engage in creative and efficient work, cultivate a sense of pride in our accomplishments, and bolster our overall self-worth.
It contributes to superior decision-making skills.
It can improve our performance in professional settings, enhance our communication skills, and boost our self-assurance and job satisfaction.

Given these benefits, it's clear that enhancing self-awareness is a worthwhile endeavour. Self-awareness can significantly improve every aspect of your experiences, serving as a versatile tool and practice that can be applied to centre your clients, assess and guide them towards making sound decisions.

Self-awareness: Summary

Self-awareness is a multifaceted concept deeply rooted in neuroscience. As coaches, understanding and applying these principles can lead to more insightful and impactful coaching. By fostering self-awareness in clients, we pave the way for more meaningful change and personal growth.

The Neuro Nudges team wishes you well as you explore your strengths and values.