Self Awareness Lecture Me Myself and I
Self Awareness Lecture Me Myself and I
Self Awareness Lecture Me Myself and I
As we develop self- awareness we are able to make changes in the thoughts and
interpretations we make in our mind. Changing the interpretations in our mind allows us to
change our emotions. Self-awareness is one of the attributes of Emotional Intelligence and an
important factor in achieving success.
The Johari Window can be looked at from many angles and provides four basic forms of
the Self (the Public, Private, Blind, and Undiscovered Self).
1. The Public Self - is what you and others see in you. You typically do not mind discussing with
others this part of you. Most of the time you agree with this view you have and others have of
you.
2. The Private or Hidden Self- is what you see in yourself but others don’t. In this part you hide
things that are very private about yourself. You do not want this information to be disclosed for
the reason of protection. It could also be that you may be ashamed of these areas due to
vulnerability to having your faults, weaknesses, and dysfunctions exposed. This area equally
applies to your good qualities that you don’t want to advertise to the world due to modesty.
3. The Blind Self- is what you do not see in yourself but others see in you. You might see
yourself as an open-minded person when, in reality, people around you consider you an
anatomical posterior (wink). This area also works the other way. You might see yourself as a
“dumb” person while others might consider you incredibly bright. Sometimes those around
you might not tell you what they see because they are scared of you, fear offending you, or
might consider it a waste of time. It is in this arena that people sometimes detect that your talk
and your walk don’t match. Sometimes body-language shows this mismatch.
4. The Undiscovered or Unknown Self- is the self that you cannot see nor others around you.
In this category there might be good and bad things that are out of the awareness of others
and yours. The unknown area could also include represses or subconscious feelings rooted in
formative events or traumatic past experiences which can stay unknown for a lifetime.
B. “Stages of Self-Discovery”
Self-awareness is developed through practices in focusing our attention on the details of
our personality and behavior. Having self-awareness allows us to see where our thoughts and
emotions are taking us. It also allows us to see the controls of our emotions, behavior, and
personality so we can make changes we want.
Stage 1 is Self-protection
We are unaware of ourselves and we like it that way, sometimes ferociously so. We don’t
know why we feel like we feel, do what we do or think what we think. We are reactive. We think
other people are “doing it to us.” We get angry, hurt, bitter, resentful, happy, thrilled and overjoyed
by whatever happens to us. What is “out there” defines how we experience life. Our overriding
concern is our own safety and well-being. We are needy, insecure and self-absorbed. ”It’s all
about me attitude.”
Stage 2 is Self-awareness.
We become aware of what is going on inside ourselves, brought on by those outside
triggers. We realize that other people cannot “make” us happy or unhappy. We are choosing. We
are deciding. Because we decide how we respond, we realize that we control how we feel. We
realize that we have “beliefs” and “expectations.” These are the rules of life by which we “judge”
external events and thereby react to them as “good” or “bad.” When we change our beliefs, we
change our experience. We are in control. Our overriding concern is changing ourselves in order
to handle life better. We need a lot from ourselves, but not from others.
Stage 3 is Self-acceptance.
We accept our faults. We are true to ourselves. We let the world see who we are. We live
as if we have nothing to hide and nothing to prove. In so doing, we begin to “forget” about
ourselves. We are comfortable in our own skin. The only problem is, other people don’t
necessarily like this new quality in us. Our authenticity is pushing their self-protective buttons,
dragging them towards a self-awareness they don’t want. The result is often damaged
relationships with people who can’t go where you are going. Sometimes, it’s best to let them go.
Sometimes, you need to change for their benefit, such as for your spouse. This is where we get
pushed into the fourth stage.
Stage 4 is Self-empowerment.
This stage happens when we are willing to intentionally make changes for the benefit of
others. These changes come at our expense. It is an ego-shrinking experience that liberates us.
We begin to know at a deep level that we can handle whatever life throws at us. We are flexible
yet clear about our boundaries. The idea that it’s “not about me” takes root at a deep, visceral
soul level. We get over things quickly and we have a cheerful soul even in the face of great
difficulties.
With this level of inner peace and self-esteem, we become truly present to what is
happening around us. We see past the facades that people publicly present, to the real person
behind the mask. We have no desire to unmask them or change them. We see them, we accept
them and we don’t react to them unconsciously. Our over-riding concern is to be helpful to them
as they need it at this time and stage in their lives. We need nothing from them. We have all we
need from the inside. We have undergone a spiritual transformation.
Moreover, when you are self-aware you get to build stronger and better relationships with
your family and friends.