If you have to describe yourself to someone else, what will you say?It can be difficult to see yourself from the outside, but knowing who you are, namely self-awareness, can help you understand feelings and make friendships closer.
Self-awareness means having a good understanding of our own character, that is, having the ability to see ourselves clearly. If you're self-aware, you may know that you love playing an instrument because you do well in it, and music makes you happy, or that you prefer watching TV on your own because it helps you relax.
Knowing what you like and dislike, what you do well in and what you find difficult allows you to make better decisions about friendships, schoolwork and so on. You learn to trust your own feelings more, which builds confidence. The World Health Organization says self-awareness is one of ten important life skills that help young people live happier and healthier lives. Being self-aware doesn't mean only thinking of yourself. By understanding your own feelings, you will better understand other people too.
How do you learn to be self-aware? It's a good way to ask questions. But ask yourself questions that start with "What" instead of "Why". So, if you don't understand why you keep arguing with a friend, ask yourself what you disagree on instead of why you're arguing.
Learning to be more self-aware is a skill, which means you learn it as you grow. So be bold and try out new things, like playing a new sport or listening to different kinds of music. Don't be afraid to dislike something—discovering what you find difficult is a key part of learning more about yourself.
