How Self-Aware Are You…Really?
Many of us like to believe we’re fairly self-aware. We reflect, we think deeply, we care about personal growth.
But self-awareness isn’t about being thoughtful or introspective. It’s about how clearly we can see ourselves – especially in everyday moments.
Before exploring how to build self-awareness, it helps to pause and ask:
How do you know how self-aware you are?
A Gentle Self-Check
- I sometimes feel unsettled or emotional without fully understanding why.
- I notice my reactions after they happen, rather than in the moment.
- Many of my thoughts come and go without much awareness.
- Days and weeks often blur together when I look back.
- I know I have strengths and areas for growth, but I struggle to name them clearly.
- Feedback can feel uncomfortable, even when it’s well-intended.
- I occasionally find myself blaming situations or people instead of reflecting inward.
- Certain patterns keep repeating in my life, and I’m not always sure why.
- I stay busy, but not always present.
- I find it hard to articulate what truly matters to me.
And if you want to go deeper…
- I replay conversations in my head later and wish I had responded differently.
- I feel drained after certain interactions but can’t clearly explain why.
- I say “yes” to things and later feel resentful or overwhelmed.
- I know I’m stressed, but I keep pushing through without pausing.
- I avoid difficult conversations, then feel frustrated that nothing changes.
- I feel irritated by certain people without being sure what exactly triggers it.
- I stay productive to avoid thinking or feeling too much.
- I feel uncomfortable with silence and tend to fill it quickly.
- I notice physical tension (tight shoulders, shallow breathing) only after the day ends.
- I react more strongly when I feel misunderstood or overlooked.
If a few of these resonate, you’re not alone. Many people begin their self-awareness journey right here.
What Is Self-Awareness, Really?
At its core, self-awareness is the ability to notice yourself – your thoughts, emotions, reactions, and patterns – with clarity and compassion.
It isn’t about being perfect or constantly analysing yourself. It’s about being present enough to understand yourself better over time.
How I’ve Been Building My Self-Awareness
This hasn’t been a single breakthrough or a dramatic turning point. It has been a long and gradual process of learning to slow down, notice more, and respond with greater intention – both at work and in everyday life.
These are my regular practises after exploring many modalities:
Meditation
Meditation helped me become aware of how busy and reactive my mind can be. Instead of trying to control or silence my thoughts, I learned to observe them. Over time, that awareness made it easier to pause before reacting, especially in emotionally charged situations, and that used to happen a lot.
Everyday Mindfulness
Some of the most powerful awareness practices are ordinary ones. Eating without distractions, paying attention to taste and texture, spending quiet time with my cats – these moments gently bring me back into the present. They remind me that awareness isn’t something separate from life; it’s something we practise within it.
Reiki
I originally learned Reiki to support my cats, not expecting it to impact me much at all. Yet through the process, I became more attuned to my own emotional and energetic states. It helped me notice subtle shifts – tension, fatigue, calm – that I used to overlook.
Breathing Practices
Breath awareness has been one of the simplest and most reliable ways to regulate myself. When I notice my breathing, I notice my state. It gives me a pause point – especially during stressful conversations or busy days – so I can respond rather than react.
Travel and Stillness
When I travel, I intentionally slow down. I look out of windows, walk without rushing, sit quietly and observe. Stepping away from routine creates space – for reflection, perspective, and deeper awareness of how I’m actually feeling. Oh and my handphone…almost never used, except for the sporadic photo taking and recording.
Why Self-Awareness Matters
Over time, self-awareness quietly changes how we move through the world.
We become less reactive.
We respond more thoughtfully.
We communicate with greater clarity.
We recognise patterns earlier and interrupt them more gently.
At work, this often shows up as calmer conversations, better decisions, and stronger relationships. In life, it brings more ease and intention.
Why Attend the Awareness Works™ Self-Awareness Workshop
In today’s workplace, performance challenges are rarely due to a lack of skills or intelligence. More often, they stem from low self-awareness – resulting in reactive communication, defensiveness, poor judgement under pressure, and recurring interpersonal friction.
The Awareness Works™ Self-Awareness Workshop is a practical, one-day programme designed to help professionals develop greater awareness of how they think, react, and communicate – so they can operate with clarity, composure, and intention at work.
This is not a wellness or therapy session. It is a workplace-relevant capability-building workshop grounded in real organisational dynamics.
What Organisations Gain
Participants leave better equipped to:
- manage reactions in high-pressure situations
- communicate more clearly in difficult conversations
- receive feedback with less defensiveness
- make more considered decisions
- work more effectively with colleagues and stakeholders
Over time, this supports improved collaboration, reduced conflict, stronger leadership presence, and more intentional, accountable behaviour at work.
Why This Workshop Works
The programme:
- focuses on observable workplace behaviour, not abstract reflection
- uses realistic scenarios participants recognise immediately
- provides simple tools that can be applied immediately
- maintains clear professional boundaries while encouraging insight
Reflection is structured, purposeful, and directly linked to workplace performance.