Unlocking the Inner Depths of Personality: A Quest for Self-Exploration and Self-Awareness
Describe yourself. Have you ever been asked this question and wondered what the word “self” means? Most of the time, we talk about our age, name, profession, certificates, education, and experience in describing ourselves, but these credentials are just a matter of fact, as anyone can see on a piece of paper. Have you ever met someone in your life who said “I am a self-aware person as my character is consistent in all situations, and I know my weakness, optimal potential, inner resistance, desires, goals, etc.? Probably not! Well, we often confuse the two distinct terms of self-exploration and self-awareness. How could someone be self-aware without processing the exploration? we can say that self–exploration is a journey, and self-awareness will be a destination.
First of all, we need to understand the “Self” as it is a broader term in itself, defined by different scholars in multiple ways, some say it is an individual’s character, immortal soul, conscientiousness, intellect, etc. In my opinion, “Self is an infinite power deep rooted within us, cannot be seen but can be recognized. The self is beyond the physical mechanism of body and mind and can be manifested by thinking, behavior, and emotions as actions are merely the reflection of the self. Many psychological problems arise due to the inability of a person to recognize his real self. We often observe that people behave differently in multiple contexts, and then a time comes in their lives when they don’t know what’s going on and how to deal with problems. They come across too many identities regarding questions such as Who am I? Am I satisfied with life? What are my goals? , where do I stand? And so on. Our actions are based on socially acceptable standards, and we are more concerned about others than ourselves. Self gradually, we unconsciously stopped expressing our true emotions as it seemed to displease others. The different personas or social masks we carry with us eventually vanished. At that time, we felt trapped meaninglessly in this world, which various Islamic scholars call the dazzling exterior.
The best way to gain awareness of ourselves is to be involved in exploring by using effective psychological techniques.
1- One of them is “Elaborative Interrogation” based on having the question of “Why”. Always ask yourself why I am doing certain behaviours. why don’t you feel inner calmness? Why do I always find my thoughts wandering? When you start answering all these questions, you will be better able to untie the knots of superficial personality and ultimately find your true and unique self.
2- The other important technique is making a reflection of thoughts, behaviours, and feelings. Every night before going to bed, make an analysis of your day as what are the things that make you happy, sad, and irritable, do your actions, thoughts, and feelings met your standards, where they failed to meet your standards, and at what possible ways u can improve it.
3- The final and most important technique is writing a diary. Writing is an effective way of catharsis and expressing your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Every day is a new day and a new beginning for yourself. Start today and get involved in the process of self-exploration to strengthen your awareness of self.
We can conclude that life is a continuous struggle, and to be a unique person, you have to be aware of yourself to make the best decisions, reach the top of your potential, and, more importantly, be the best version of yourself.
The author is the founder and editor of "The Spine Times."
