How to Be More Self-Aware Part 2

In our last article, we shared some information on what self-awareness is and some strategies
for how best to learn and exercise self-awareness in our personal and professional lives. This is
based on turning the spotlight inward to notice our emotional triggers, biases, and habits.
Today, we’d like to continue that with four more tips on how we can all be more self-aware and
maintain those practices.

Notice your triggers to find out what people or situations make you upset. To notice your
emotional triggers for self-awareness, you need to pay close attention to sudden shifts in your
body and mind, then work backward to find what caused them.

You might feel body cues, physical changes like a tight chest, clenched jaw, racing heart, or
upset stomach. Mind shifts can occur, like a sudden flare of anger, defensiveness, the urge to
shut down, or an emotional reaction that feels too big for the actual event. The following are
some ways you can notice and trace triggers.

Stop when you feel a strong emotion. Name the exact feeling, such as frustration, fear, or
rejection. Work backward by asking yourself, “What just happened right before I felt this way?”
Look at who you were with, what was said, or what you were thinking. Check for old patterns
by asking yourself, “Is this familiar?” Triggers often connect to past hurts or unmet needs.

Listening to others is essential to practice self-awareness. Pay close attention when people
speak without planning your reply. Notice when you stop listening and start mentally preparing
your reply or a counterargument. This reveals any underlying need to be right or control the
narrative. Before you respond, use the pause technique. Wait two to three seconds after the
other person finishes speaking before you reply. This gap stops impulsive reactions and calms
your nervous system. Shift your focus to a more productive place by resisting the urge to fix or
relate too hard to others. Avoid immediately jumping in to solve their problem, share a similar
story, or make the conversation about your own experience.

Label your emotions instead of letting them remain ambiguous. Name what you feel internally
without judging yourself. Acknowledge feelings like impatience, discomfort, or defensiveness
quietly in your mind. We can’t always control how we feel, but we are responsible for what we
do with those feelings. Always stay curious. Treat the other person’s perspective as new
information rather than an attack or a test. Ask open-ended or clarifying questions to stay
engaged.

Self-awareness links closely to core personal principles like honesty, humility, and
responsibility. It helps people see their own thoughts, feelings, and limits clearly. Identify the

values you want to follow to increase your self-awareness. Decide what matters most to you
and check if your actions match. Some examples are humility, authenticity, empathy, courage,
and integrity.

To learn more about self-awareness and other topics, check out our blog. For questions and
appointments, write to us on our website or call us at (585) 442-6960.