Self-awareness is one of the most important qualities to cultivate in life. Without it, there is no real opportunity to identify those areas where change can be applied to improve the quality of your life and those around you. Self-awareness, however, is very different than self-consciousness; though they are often confused.
Let’s contrast the two.
Self-Consciousness: This is the obsessive focus on yourself, to the detriment of (or just ignorance of) those around you. It is ego-driven behavior. It breeds fear and insecurity, which in turn limit the range of likely choices you have to make in life. Being self-conscious cuts off a host of experiences that could enrich your life. Self-conscious people over-analyze and over-react to situations. There can be no objectivity when self-conscious behavior is present.
Self-Awareness: The awareness of what is. Self-awareness is an objective (i.e. non-judging) observation of the way things are. There is little reactivity, just activity and observation. There is no labeling of situations as good or bad. There is no feeling of fear, lack or regret. There is just action and observation. Through self-awareness we are able to truly connect with other people and our environment since we are not busying ourselves with analyzing everything. We are also able to, while in this state of balance – act on the things that we know to be true (not just those we think are true) – and be a significant force for positive change and contribution to the world.
If self-conscious people rely on validation from their external environment, self-aware people do not require any external validation. Perhaps the biggest distinction is that self-aware people are constantly searching for ways to improve the quality of their lives and that of their community. They are contributors not takers. They hold themselves to high standards, and as such, inspire those that they come into contact with on a daily basis.
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For a sports performance (more immediately competitive than endurance, but useful in any activity, including just living) angle on this, try The Inner Game Of Tennis by Tim Gallwey
http://www.theinnergame.com/index.html
Self-consciousness vs self-awareness. I didn’t realize there was a difference until I read your post. Thank you for the enlightenment! It couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Serendipitous indeed, as was my coming across your site today!