Why Having a Strong Sense of Self Matters
What does personal identity mean?
It means who we are as individuals. That small percentage of authenticity that makes us unique and different from others. We all have a sense of self, but it is not always easy to express it. Most of us are reactive.
Our sense of self affects how we behave.
Our sense of self has an impact on how we act and react. If we feel good about ourselves, accept our flaws and are confident, we tend to act more positively towards others. On the other hand, when we feel bad about ourselves, push negative thoughts in the back of our minds, we tend to treat others as punching bags.
We have an impact on others.
Our sense of self also affects how we interact with others. If we think too highly of ourselves or try and cover up insecurities , we might try to put people down. Or, if we think poorly of ourselves, we might avoid interacting with others who would have loved all of us or would have been able to help us.
We make decisions based on our sense of self.
Our sense of self is influenced by many things, such as our family history, culture, religion, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, education level, occupation, and more. These influences shape what we believe about ourselves and how we behave toward others.
Knowing how internal and external factors influence you helps you to strengthen your sense of self. Psychology Today states, "when you look within, you can distinguish yourself from your surroundings, allowing you to become more self-aware. People who know themselves make decisions for themselves automatically."
Knowing where we have bias because of our upbringings or belief system can be powerful. You can understand if you are judging something or making a decision because of a belief or if you truly believe that authentically. For example, think about how your friends and family impact you. Are they positive or negative influences? What types of decisions have you made because of them?
Self Awareness is a Form of Self Care
Knowing our knee-jerk reaction and being able to work with it can be an immensely important step toward authenticity and is a critical part of self-care.
Lisa D'Anna's (NLP, CBT) guide to self-awareness has 30 powerful writing prompts and inspiring quotes that help you answer critical questions about yourself. Self-reflection is powerful. You'll fall for anything if you don't know who you are. Walking around in the unconscious is the start of a lot of trouble. We become reactive to others and even ourselves, blurting out emotional responses that we later regret. Self-reflection helps us understand our triggers before they happen and assists us in choosing more healthy responses and changing behaviors (even thoughts) that aren't working well for us. Life reflects our inner world. People without self-awareness tend to follow trends more; they decorate the exterior and pursue ideas and people that aren't good for them. 'Knowing thyself' helps us understand why our world is the way it is and why our relationships are the way they are. When we know who we are, the good, bad, pretty, and ugly, it is harder for someone to take advantage of us, and Not much can be used against us, and we become better people.
