Approaches to Know Yourself Better

Have you ever felt lost, uncertain about what you truly want in life, or struggled to make decisions that align with your values and goals? You're not alone. Many of us go through life without truly understanding who we are and what we want out of it. However, becoming self-aware is the first step to living a fulfilling and authentic life. 

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your emotions, thoughts, and behavior. It involves being able to reflect on your experiences and how they have shaped you, as well as recognizing your strengths, weaknesses, and values. Self-awareness is not a fixed trait, but rather a skill that can be developed over time.

Self-awareness is important because it allows you to understand yourself better, which leads to better decision-making, improved relationships, and increased personal fulfillment. When you are self-aware, you can recognize your emotions and respond to them in a healthy way, rather than being controlled by them. You can also identify your strengths and weaknesses, which allows you to focus on your strengths and work on improving your weaknesses. Finally, self-awareness allows you to live an authentic life by aligning your actions with your values and goals.

Our sense of identity is comprised of our sense of self - our unique characteristics, afflictions, and social roles. Your personality, likes, dislikes, abilities, beliefs, values, and motivations all help build up and contribute to your self of who you are as a person.

We develop a sense of identity when we are young, and this can continue to develop over time as we grow, change, and encounter new situations, people, and learn more about the world.

Having a strong sense of identity can help us to feel like we belong. It can also help strengthen our confidence and overall sense of wellbeing, leading us to make long-lasting friendships with others who share similar interests and values. It can help us to view the world in a more optimistic light, be more open to learning about new things and different people, and generally be happier in ourselves.

There are many different ways you can start building a stronger sense of who you are and start to live more authentically. As we mentioned earlier, defining your values and core beliefs is the first step towards understanding what matters most to you. This in turn can help you start to make choices based on what you want to achieve, what you enjoy, and what will be best for your health and wellbeing.

Even when you have others who are relying on you (young children, elderly relatives, a partner or friends with health or support issues) you need to ensure your needs are being met. When we don’t meet our own needs, we can’t support others to the best of our ability.

Spending time by yourself can be a great way to reflect and understand yourself. This could mean trying meditation, practising mindfulness, keeping a journal, or trying something new like a hobby or volunteering. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it - just give yourself the time (and space) to get to know you and what makes you feel fulfilled, rested, energised, and happy.

Getting support and guidance can be an important part of better understanding yourself. Looking to others to act as a sounding board or to provide a safe space to explore your thoughts, ideas, worries, and questions can be an important and valid way of rediscovering who you are.

If you’re worried you may be experiencing ill mental health (anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem) speaking with a therapist could be the right option for you. Reaching out to your GP is the first step towards getting a diagnosis and highlighting local resources to support your mental health.

While a counsellor can help you look into your past and address issues you may be facing now, working with a coach can help you focus on the future, where you want to go, and how to set goals to get there.

Becoming self-aware is an important journey that can lead to a more fulfilling and authentic life. By practicing mindfulness, seeking feedback, reflecting on your experiences, identifying your values and goals, embracing vulnerability, practicing self-compassion, and seeking professional help if needed, you can develop your self-awareness and lead a more authentic and fulfilling life.