By Manveer Sadhra (Research Assistant)
Ever feel like your emotions are all over the place, or like you’re making decisions without really knowing why? That’s where self-awareness comes in – it’s a powerful tool that helps you understand yourself better, make more thought out choices, and manage your emotions.
Let’s dive into why it matters and how you can develop it!
What is Self-Awareness?
Self-awareness is simply understanding what’s going on in your mind – your emotions, thoughts, and why you act the way you do. It comes in two main forms:
- Private or Internal self-awareness – Knowing your own feelings, values, and motivations.
- Public or External self-awareness – Understanding how others see and react to you.
Building self-awareness takes practice, reflection, and sometimes listening to feedback – even when it’s hard to hear!
Why Does Self-Awareness Matter?
- Self-awareness is a game-changer because it helps you:
- Manage your emotions more effectively.
- Make choices that align with your values and goals.
- Strengthen friendships and relationships.
- Recognise your strengths and areas for growth.
- Handle stress and mental health challenges in a healthier way.
How Self-Awareness Improves Everyday Life
- Being self-aware isn’t just a “nice-to-have” skill – it makes life easier!
- Better Relationships – You’ll pick up on social cues, resolve conflicts smoothly, and avoid unnecessary drama.
- Emotion Regulation – It can help you recognise when you’re feeling off and act before things escalate.
- Smarter Decision-Making – Instead of reacting impulsively, you’ll think things through and avoid regrets.
- Success in School & Work – You’ll understand how you learn best, stay organised, and handle constructive criticism with ease.
What Happens When You Lack Self-Awareness?
Without self-awareness, life can feel more complicated. Here are some common struggles:
- Emotional Overload – You might feel overwhelmed or unsure about how you feel and how to respond to those feelings.
- Relationship Struggles – Misreading people’s responses or not realising how you affect others can create tension.
- Poor Decision-Making – Acting on impulse without considering the consequences can lead to mistakes.
- Increased Stress– If you don’t recognise what’s bothering you, it’s harder to manage stress in a healthy way.
How to Build Self-Awareness
You can improve your self-awareness with simple, daily habits.
One of the main things young people learn in the ReSET project is how to effectively communicate in more difficult situations using our interaction strategies. You can use some of these strategies in day-to-day interactions with friends, family and other people!
- Journaling – Writing down your thoughts and emotions can help you make sense of them.
- This might help you put together an ‘I Statement’ ahead of a difficult conversation!
- Daily check-ins – Take a moment to check in with yourself and your feelings.
- Remember to ‘Keep Calm and Breathe’
- Ask for Feedback – Trusted friends or mentors can offer valuable insights about how you come across to others.
Final Thoughts
Self-awareness is a game-changer that can boost your mental wellbeing, relationships, and overall success. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Start small – reflect on your thoughts, ask yourself why you react a certain way, and stay open to new ideas.
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The theme of this year’s Place2Be Children’s Mental Health Week (3rd-9th February 2025) is: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself. The UK Charity hopes to encourage young people to further develop their self-awareness and learn how better understanding ourselves, better prepares us to tackle life’s ups and downs.
If you haven’t already, go read the two other blogs we’ve posted this week for Children’s Mental Health Week:
- How to support young people to embrace self-awareness within a group setting
- Building Self-Awareness: Lessons from ReSET for Adults and Young People
You can also check out the content we have been creating for our social media channels this week by following us any of the following platforms:
Twitter (now X): @ReSET_Project_
BlueSky: @resetproject.bsky.social
LinkedIn: ReSET Project
