Is self-aware the same as self-conscious?
Human beings are conscious not only of the world around them but also of themselves: their activities, their bodies, and their mental lives. They are, that is, self-conscious (or, equivalently, self-aware). Self-consciousness can be understood as an awareness of oneself.
Self-awareness is tricky because not only is it important to be self-aware and understand how you are contributing to different issues, but it needs some sense of accuracy and constructive criticism. In other words, it's not enough to only be self-aware. It's the action that comes after the awareness.
Another way of thinking about it: To be conscious is to think; to be self-aware is to realize that you are a thinking being and to think about your thoughts. Presumably, human infants are conscious—they perceive and respond to people and things around them—but they are not yet self-aware.
When we are self-aware we are able to recognize our strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge helps us to set goals for ourselves. We know where we have to room to grow and that's a good thing! Our strengths help us feel confident in our ability to improve on our weaknesses.
Awareness is having knowledge of something. On the other hand, consciousness is the state of being aware of something and this can be regarded as more spiritual kind of definition. When a person is aware of something, he/she may feel it or just sense it without exactly knowing what it is.
Self-conscious emotions are those affected by how we see ourselves and how we think others perceive us. They include emotions like pride, jealousy, and embarrassment.
Self-awareness allows us to see things from the perspective of others, practice self-control, work creatively and productively, and experience pride in ourselves and our work as well as general self-esteem (Silvia & O'Brien, 2004). It leads to better decision making (Ridley, Schutz, Glanz, & Weinstein, 1992).
: feeling uncomfortably nervous or embarrassed when in the presence of or when being observed by other people He's very self-conscious about his appearance. Other Words from self-conscious.
- Being better able to manage and regulate your emotions.
- Better communication.
- Better decision-making skills.
- Improved relationships.
- Higher levels of happiness.
- More confidence.
- Better job satisfaction.
- Better leadership skills.
There are two types of self-awareness: private and public. Private self-awareness is when people are aware of something about themselves that others might not be — like being anxious about reading out loud. Public self-awareness is when people are aware of how others see them.
What is the opposite of self-awareness?
ignorance | disregard |
---|---|
indifference | inscience |
insensitivity | blindness |
inattention | insouciance |
nescience | nonchalance |
Self-awareness is the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions do or don't align with your internal standards. If you're highly self-aware, you can objectively evaluate yourself, manage your emotions, align your behavior with your values, and understand correctly how others perceive you.

Self awareness is essential because, time and time again, people learn that when they don't take the time to understand themselves, they make bad decisions that can have negative consequences. When you are self-aware, you are aware of your actions and how those actions affect others.
It helps us build better relationships. That's because being aware of our emotions can help us talk about feelings more clearly, avoid or resolve conflicts better, and move past difficult feelings more easily. Some people are naturally more in touch with their emotions than others.
- Keep an open mind. ...
- Be mindful of your strengths and weaknesses. ...
- Stay focused. ...
- Set boundaries. ...
- Know your emotional triggers. ...
- Embrace your intuition. ...
- Practice self-discipline. ...
- Consider how your actions affect others.