7 Reasons Why Students Need Greater Self-Awareness
Although we may all live in this same world, the way we see things highly differs. People always have different perspectives about life, success, failure, and other things like culture and norms. One’s perspective about a subject in question is highly influenced by their personality, mindset and the environment, one is exposed to while growing up.
On the other hand, there are people who aren’t influenced by external factors. They will go forward despite the challenges and hindrances. They do not rely on others or external factors to be happy, in other words, they are self-dependent. Such people might have a greater self-awareness score.
When it comes to the education realm, helping students to become self-aware can lead to self-actualization. People are highly motivated in life if they find their purpose in living. Besides, it also leads to a happier and quality life. With that, helping students to become more self-aware can help them realize their goals and align them with their skills and capabilities. Generally, they cultivate strategies to help them realize those goals. But what does being self-aware mean?
What is Self-Awareness?
It’s the ability to understand your emotions, thoughts, feelings, and values, and how they influence personal behavior and attitude.
People who are self-aware know how to control their emotions and feelings. They also know their influence on those around them.
There are generally two types of self-awareness; internal and external awareness. Internal awareness is being more certain about your behavior, emotions and feelings. External awareness is when individual/s are aware of how others perceive them. For example, they know what others might be thinking about them and their actions.
Self-awareness is highly important in life because of the following reasons;
- Enhances Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is how one sees him/herself. It is the sense of self-worth that one feels about themselves. Students with high self-esteem believe in themselves and have a high sense of self-worth. Regardless of their abilities or imperfections, they work towards obtaining goals.
Self-esteem is very important because it impacts students mentally, and physically and also influences the overall quality of life. Self-esteem also affects the decision-making process and motivation in individuals. When students are aware of their skills and potential, they have higher self-esteem and don’t seek affirmation from others.
2. Helps Develop Self-Control
When students understand their feelings and emotions, it helps them better tame and manage their emotions. Generally, they develop self-regulation by understanding that their actions, whether good or bad, have an impact on others. Similarly, they learn how to develop positive coping mechanisms in challenging times.
Self-control is a very important trait and can help students avoid making mistakes that can result in regrets. It’s because being self-aware makes one more informed about the negative aspects of emotions and their influence on others. In the long run, students develop into better and more responsible beings.
3. Helps Them Develop a Growth Mindset
The concept of growth mindset was developed by Dweck and it asserts that it’s best for an individual to have a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset. A growth mindset is a belief that one’s skills, intelligence, and abilities can be developed or improved. On the other hand, a fixed mindset is where one believes that their abilities and intelligence are inborn and can’t be improved.
When students have a growth mindset they develop multiple perspectives about anything. They are open to learning and keep on looking for ways to better themselves. On the other hand, it’s challenging to teach students with a fixed mindset because they maintain a single attitude towards challenges. They believe that they are intelligent and don’t bother exploring beyond their comfort zones.
4. Increases Empathy
Self-awareness helps students enhance their social-emotional skills. Generally, social-emotional skills help students to succeed in and out of class. They learn how to behave with others or how to treat others. Precisely, they are more empathetic and willing to maintain quality relationships.
People who practice empathy are more likely to build and maintain quality relationships. That’s because they understand that people may behave the way they do because of their experiences. For example, they put themselves in other people’s positions before acting or taking a decision.
Helping children to develop empathy enables them to tolerate and accept others the way they are. Helping students cultivate empathy helps them to practice when to leverage it and when to avoid it as a way of protecting themselves. Practicing empathy can also support one’s path to self-improvement in the modern world.
5. Increases Critical Thinking Capabilities
The power to think about something and draw meaning from it refers to critical thinking. To make a difference, it isn’t necessary to think alone, but it’s also essential to reflect on the thoughts before making a judgment. Students who think critically happen to develop positive thinking patterns. In other words, they can differentiate between negative and positive thoughts and change their thinking where necessary.
Generally, self-awareness helps separate emotions and feelings during the decision-making process. One is able to think rationally rather than acting based on emotions.
6. Better Decision-Making
Life is about making choices and decisions on a daily basis. Helping students to develop greater self-awareness helps them learn how to make informed decisions. Normally, they learn to listen to others, think critically, and form a judgment. A lifestyle characterized by making ideal decisions makes life simpler and more enjoyable.
7. Increases Success Chances
Above all, When students are self-aware, it allows them to understand their potential and work on pathways to better themselves or reach their goals. Generally, self-awareness ignites the power of positivity which is a major driver of creativity and self-confidence.
For example, a student who knows that aren’t good enough in mathematics will put in more effort by doing homework or seeking help from others in order to perform better.
Similarly, self-awareness drives students to focus on their abilities and think about what they can become in the future. This makes them better positioned to face challenges and persist until they achieve their goals. Apart from setting SMART Goals, students learn to explore beyond their comfort zone.
To encapsulate, self-awareness is when one is aware of him or herself. Self-awareness generally helps individuals understand their feelings, emotions, values, weaknesses, and strengths. When individuals understand themselves clearly, they learn to find a better version of themselves and this impacts their identity and their relations with others. Helping students develop a sense of self-awareness helps them find their strength and leverage it for good.
Author Bio:
Jessica Robinson loves to write interesting and knowledgeable blogs regarding business management, education and life to satiate the curiosity of her lovely readers. Currently, she is serving as a content manager at the ‘Speaking Polymath’. Every piece of content that she writes demonstrates her immense love and passion for her profession.