Self-Reflection

When I am reading and studying all about self-awareness, I asked myself, what is the essence of this? Do I really have to know the real me? Then, it came from my mind the thought, “If I want to change my life in any way I need to know myself before I can act.” Let's say that I am unhappy or indecisive, I need to know what I need to do to head in the right direction and I can't do that until I know the right direction to move in. In addition, being self aware will mean that I will be better able to choose a suitable career which will satisfy me specially choosing my subjects for the next semester, or if I will pursue psychiatric nursing as my major subject in MAN. Self awareness can enrich my life because I can then move closer to living my values and realizing my dreams and goals in life. Also, with the help of self-awareness, when I have identified the things that makes me happy or motivate me, it can bring more of those things into my life and make priorities based on that which is important to me. Becoming self aware does not mean being selfish though. Discovering the inner me will enable me to seek the opportunities to give more of myself to others and this will have mutual benefits in my relationships as well as helping to build myself esteem and confidence as I become more true to myself in every aspect of my life. If I see self confidence as a problem in my life then I need to grow and prosper knowing myself.

As I grow in self-awareness, I have a better understanding of my behavior and attitudes - why I feel, what I feel and why I behave as I behave. Developing self-awareness helped me to recognize when I am stressed or under pressure. That understanding then gives me the opportunity and freedom to change those things I’d like to change about myself and create the life I want. Without fully knowing who I am, self acceptance and change become impossible.

Self-awareness is not self-interest; indeed selfishness has nothing to do with it. Self-awareness is a willingness to be open, positive and honest. It is an openness to oneself and to the world around that influences us and that we influence. Being open means that the relationship to ourselves, to others, and to objects is one of harmony and of greater good. In wanting to care I believe that I am already acting morally and ethically, because I want to increase the influence of goodness. Thus, I give value to caring which is beneficial to my profession as care giver.

Self-awareness is always a challenge, and this makes me vulnerable. I become like a tender plant exposed to frost at night and too much heat from the daytime sun. Am I able not only to withstand such extremes, but to benefit and grow from them? In caring for others, I am constantly open to such challenges. I am influenced by other people’s behavior, thinking, values, their health, their outlook, and also those of their families and friends. With the value of self-awareness, when I care I cannot simply impose my own values, but I need to respond to those of the other. A realistic self-awareness gives us personal boundaries and guides. We do not merge easily with the other person. Assured of my basic stability, I can now change, but of my own freewill and not because someone says so.

I believe that the problems I face in life are there to help me develop as a person and make me more aware of whom I am so that I can improve physically, mentally and psychologically. Becoming self aware is an ongoing process you can devote time to and I think it is time well spent.