What Is Self-Awareness
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Take a moment to familiarise yourself with these buttons — you’ll see them throughout the course. They’ll help you navigate more easily and make the most of your experience.
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What is Self-Awereness?
Self-awareness is the ability to know yourself, to observe yourself inwardly, and to identify and recognise your emotions, thoughts, values, reactions, instincts, and behaviours...
Continue
... and to understand how all these elements influence your actions and your interactions with others.
Continue
Self-awareness has two dimensions:
The internal dimension — knowing yourself: emotions, motivations, limits, and strengths.
The external dimension — perceiving how others see you and adjusting your behaviour realistically.
+click here
+click here
Continue
In practice, a self-aware person knows how to…
Recognise what she feels without being overwhelmed.
Understand the causes of her reactions.
Assess the impact of her emotions on others.
Continue
The Benefits of Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is seeing oneself clearly and objectively. It allows one to better manage oneself (both internally and externally), achieve human maturity, and establish healthy relationships.
It contributes not only to personal development but also, and above all, to deeper self-knowledge, a healthy self-image, and positive self-esteem.
+click here
+click here
Continue
Important to know:
Terminological precision
Self-knowledge, self-image, and self-esteem are often seen as essential life skills in their own right. Here, however, we treat them as part of self-awareness, since they are deeply interconnected.
Continue
From Self-Awareness to Self-Esteem
Self-awareness is the starting point that helps you develop self-knowledge. Self-knowledge then shapes your self-image, which in turn strongly influences your self-esteem.
To better understand this link, let's turn to an analogy.
Continue
Click above:Mirror analogy
Continue
Illustration of the analogy
Self-Esteem
Self-Image
Self-Knowledge
You interpret and judge what you see in the mirror. For example, you might think: “My nose isn’t as thin as other people’s, so I have an ugly nose.”
The judgment you made about your nose — whether it’s thinner or thicker — triggers a feeling within you, such as pride, shame, embarrassment, or inadequacy.
The mirror lets you see that your nose is larger or smaller, thinner or thicker than those you see on other people’s faces.
Continue
The 3 components of self-awareness
According to psychological research, self-awareness rests on three main pillars:
Self-confidence
Emotional awareness
Accurate self-assessment
Continue
Emotional Awareness
It’s identifying your emotions as they arise.
“I feel tension in my body — I’m stressed.”
+Description
+Example
Continue
Accurate Self-Assessment
It’s recognising your strengths, limits, and typical reactions.
“I get nervous when I speak in public, but I’m improving.”
+Description
+Example
Continue
Self-Confidence
It’s feeling stable and comfortable with who you are.
“I know who I am, and I don’t need to please everyone.”
+Description
+Example
Continue
These three components work together: the more you understand your emotions and inner patterns, the more realistic and authentic your self-confidence becomes.
Continue
Why Self-Awareness Is Essential?
- It helps you understand your real needs (not just what you want).
- It teaches you to recognise your emotions before they take control.
- It strengthens your inner stability — you no longer depend on others’ opinions to know who you are.
On a personal level
On a relational (interpersonal) level
On a developmental level
- You communicate more clearly because you understand what you feel.
- You listen better because you no longer project your emotions onto others.
It is the gateway to all other life skills: emotional regulation, empathy, decision-making, resilience, etc.
Continue
Signs of Low Self-Awareness
Lack of self-reflection: You don’t recognise your mistakes or repeated patterns. Ex.: making the same mistakes over and over again.
Impulsive reactions: Emotions guide decisions. Ex.: getting angry without understanding why.
Inner dissonance: You express the opposite of what you truly feel. Ex.: smiling while feeling frustrated.
Need for approval: You rely on others’ opinions or validation to feel valuable. Ex.: changing your opinion to please others.
Continue
Consequences of Poor Self-Awareness
A gap between oneself and one’s life, and inconsistency between values and actions.
Choices and decisions influenced by others.
Poor management of emotions and relationships.
A blurred or fragmented identity and low self-esteem.
Continue
These behaviours aren’t “flaws” — they are signals showing parts of yourself you haven’t fully explored yet.As long as you ignore what you feel, your emotions will keep making the decisions for you.
Continue
How to Develop Self-Awareness?
According to psychological research, self-awareness improves through the regular . practice of three habits:
Look for the connection between what you think, feel, and do.
Observe without judging – notice your thoughts and emotions as a witness.
Name what you feel – give each emotion a precise word.
Continue
You cannot change for the better unless you know yourself first.
Continue
Conclusion
Self-awareness is essential: it leads to deeper self-knowledge, fosters a positive self-image, strengthens self-esteem, and supports coherent, fulfilling actions. It also helps close the gap between what we believe and what we actually live each day.
Continue
Check your Understanding
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Well done!
Imagine you're standing in front of a mirror. What do you notice about yourself? Describe in detail what you see in the mirror. This is your self-knowledge As you describe, notice if you tend to focus on the positive or the negative. This selective gaze shapes your self-image Notice what you feel (pride, embarrassment, etc.) while describing yourself. These feelings reflect your self-esteem. Here is how you can begin to become aware of how you perceive yourself—and the impact that has on your self-esteem.
What Is Self-Awareness
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Transcript
What Is Self-Awareness
Start
How to Navigate
Click to return to the previous page
A button that flashes is interactive — click it to learn more.
Click to go to the next page
Click to flip the card and read the back
Click to show more information
Take a moment to familiarise yourself with these buttons — you’ll see them throughout the course. They’ll help you navigate more easily and make the most of your experience.
A quick note
Continue
What is Self-Awereness?
Self-awareness is the ability to know yourself, to observe yourself inwardly, and to identify and recognise your emotions, thoughts, values, reactions, instincts, and behaviours...
Continue
... and to understand how all these elements influence your actions and your interactions with others.
Continue
Self-awareness has two dimensions:
The internal dimension — knowing yourself: emotions, motivations, limits, and strengths.
The external dimension — perceiving how others see you and adjusting your behaviour realistically.
+click here
+click here
Continue
In practice, a self-aware person knows how to…
Recognise what she feels without being overwhelmed.
Understand the causes of her reactions.
Assess the impact of her emotions on others.
Continue
The Benefits of Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is seeing oneself clearly and objectively. It allows one to better manage oneself (both internally and externally), achieve human maturity, and establish healthy relationships.
It contributes not only to personal development but also, and above all, to deeper self-knowledge, a healthy self-image, and positive self-esteem.
+click here
+click here
Continue
Important to know:
Terminological precision
Self-knowledge, self-image, and self-esteem are often seen as essential life skills in their own right. Here, however, we treat them as part of self-awareness, since they are deeply interconnected.
Continue
From Self-Awareness to Self-Esteem
Self-awareness is the starting point that helps you develop self-knowledge. Self-knowledge then shapes your self-image, which in turn strongly influences your self-esteem.
To better understand this link, let's turn to an analogy.
Continue
Click above:Mirror analogy
Continue
Illustration of the analogy
Self-Esteem
Self-Image
Self-Knowledge
You interpret and judge what you see in the mirror. For example, you might think: “My nose isn’t as thin as other people’s, so I have an ugly nose.”
The judgment you made about your nose — whether it’s thinner or thicker — triggers a feeling within you, such as pride, shame, embarrassment, or inadequacy.
The mirror lets you see that your nose is larger or smaller, thinner or thicker than those you see on other people’s faces.
Continue
The 3 components of self-awareness
According to psychological research, self-awareness rests on three main pillars:
Self-confidence
Emotional awareness
Accurate self-assessment
Continue
Emotional Awareness
It’s identifying your emotions as they arise.
“I feel tension in my body — I’m stressed.”
+Description
+Example
Continue
Accurate Self-Assessment
It’s recognising your strengths, limits, and typical reactions.
“I get nervous when I speak in public, but I’m improving.”
+Description
+Example
Continue
Self-Confidence
It’s feeling stable and comfortable with who you are.
“I know who I am, and I don’t need to please everyone.”
+Description
+Example
Continue
These three components work together: the more you understand your emotions and inner patterns, the more realistic and authentic your self-confidence becomes.
Continue
Why Self-Awareness Is Essential?
On a personal level
On a relational (interpersonal) level
On a developmental level
It is the gateway to all other life skills: emotional regulation, empathy, decision-making, resilience, etc.
Continue
Signs of Low Self-Awareness
Lack of self-reflection: You don’t recognise your mistakes or repeated patterns. Ex.: making the same mistakes over and over again.
Impulsive reactions: Emotions guide decisions. Ex.: getting angry without understanding why.
Inner dissonance: You express the opposite of what you truly feel. Ex.: smiling while feeling frustrated.
Need for approval: You rely on others’ opinions or validation to feel valuable. Ex.: changing your opinion to please others.
Continue
Consequences of Poor Self-Awareness
A gap between oneself and one’s life, and inconsistency between values and actions.
Choices and decisions influenced by others.
Poor management of emotions and relationships.
A blurred or fragmented identity and low self-esteem.
Continue
These behaviours aren’t “flaws” — they are signals showing parts of yourself you haven’t fully explored yet.As long as you ignore what you feel, your emotions will keep making the decisions for you.
Continue
How to Develop Self-Awareness?
According to psychological research, self-awareness improves through the regular . practice of three habits:
Look for the connection between what you think, feel, and do.
Observe without judging – notice your thoughts and emotions as a witness.
Name what you feel – give each emotion a precise word.
Continue
You cannot change for the better unless you know yourself first.
Continue
Conclusion
Self-awareness is essential: it leads to deeper self-knowledge, fosters a positive self-image, strengthens self-esteem, and supports coherent, fulfilling actions. It also helps close the gap between what we believe and what we actually live each day.
Continue
Check your Understanding
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Continue
Well done!
Imagine you're standing in front of a mirror. What do you notice about yourself? Describe in detail what you see in the mirror. This is your self-knowledge As you describe, notice if you tend to focus on the positive or the negative. This selective gaze shapes your self-image Notice what you feel (pride, embarrassment, etc.) while describing yourself. These feelings reflect your self-esteem. Here is how you can begin to become aware of how you perceive yourself—and the impact that has on your self-esteem.