Self-awareness is an essential component of being resilient

Self-awareness is crucial for resilience, according to Tasha Erick. Only 10-15% of individuals are fully self-aware, although 95% believe they are. Internal self-awareness, understanding values and behaviors, is more common than external self-awareness, which involves how others perceive you. It is important to assess your self-awareness from others' perspectives. A simple exercise is suggested to learn how others see you, which can boost confidence and challenge limiting beliefs. Ask trusted individuals five questions about yourself and compare their answers to your own. This exercise can help enhance self-awareness and resilience. Hello, Jeremy Dieter here and welcome to the Insight Post for the 22nd of November 2023. Self-awareness is an essential component of resilience. Now if you follow Tasha Erick, author of the Insight book, you'll be aware that she majors in self-awareness, a human attribute she describes as the meta-skill of the 21st century. Self-awareness enables you to understand who you are, how you fit into the world, and how others perceive you. Important, would you not agree, especially if you are embarking on a new way of life now that the kids have left home? Self-awareness is essential to personal resilience for the same reasons, so it is disheartening to read that Erick, in her research for her book, found that only 10-15% of individuals are fully self-aware, although 95% think they are. Erick differentiates between internal and external self-awareness. Many people I speak to have developed their internal self-awareness at least in part. Values, passions, behavioural patterns, and standard reactions to situations are reasonably well appreciated. Self-awareness is often deficient, however articulating aspirations, environmental best fit, and impact on others often proves difficult. And this last, your impact on others, requires you to assess your self-awareness from the point of view of others. How do others see you? It's usually very different from how you think others see you. I spoke recently to a young musical student taking her first steps in the world of opera. She told me of her outstanding achievements as a talented young soprano and her organisational abilities in arranging and performing at concerts and events in Africa and Europe. However, in her mind's eye, she was armature-ish, incompetent, and self-effacing. Conversely, having listened to her life story, I saw a vibrant, energetic, talented, and confident individual. Self-awareness is as much about how others see you as you see yourself. So you can be wrong about how others see you. If you want to find out, which I recommend, then start with this simple exercise, which will help you accentuate the positive aspects of your character. The exercise will not leave you feeling vulnerable, afraid, or ashamed, the usual reasons we do not ask others what they think of us. On the contrary, it should build your confidence, increase your self-awareness, and challenge some of those limiting beliefs you have about yourself. Check your external self-awareness. Select four to six people from different arenas of your life who you know well and trust. Ask each these five questions. 1. What one word describes you best? 2. What do you think is my greatest achievement? 3. What do you value most about me? 4. What one thing could I change for my benefit? 5. What do you think is my greatest strength? Finally, answer the questions yourself and then reflect on the answers. In particular, look for differences between what your respondents told you and your own answers. Self-awareness is essential to your resilience now that the kids have left home. Use this exercise to discover your impact on others and enhance your self-awareness.