The Art Of Self-Awareness: 7 Simple Habits Of Naturally Self-Aware People
Self-aware people tend to see themselves clearly.
No Revisions | Unsplash Have you ever felt like you were going out of your mind? Stressful days all piling up on you until your brain's spinning and your head feels like it might explode? Research studies show the benefits of "mindfulness" meditation as developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. However, I find the term "mindfulness" a bit misleading, don't you? Because what we're really craving is emptying our minds, learning how to manage stress, and becoming more self-aware.
Modern positive psychology research reveals the importance of positive thoughts, nurturing attitudes of gratitude, and how our beliefs create much of our experience. Those benefits prove themselves out further in multiple studies that show meditation actually changes your brain in positive ways. Focused relaxation (or "purposeful pausing") during your busy and distracting everyday demands can truly improve your life.
Science has now proven that our heart has energy and cellular wisdom that, when nurtured, helps us live life more fully and gracefully. So learn how to manage stress by deliberately getting out of your mind and into your heart as regularly as you would any other physical exercise. The good news is you don't have to sit quietly under a sacred tree or alone on a mountaintop to reap the benefits of this process of becoming more self-aware.
Here are 7 simple habits of naturally self-aware people:
1. They take purposeful pauses throughout the day
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Self-aware individuals understand that constant stimulation creates mental noise that drowns out their inner voice. These are strategic pauses designed to reconnect with themselves and reset their emotional state.
Use your calendar to schedule "me time" and have a place to go in your home or outdoors where you can enjoy a minimum of five minutes of quiet stillness, reading, listening to music, or meditating in some way. Those little breaks will help you feel focused and charged the rest of the day.
2. They learn to see everyday things in new ways
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This simple yet profound exercise trains your brain to break free from autopilot mode and engage with the present moment with fresh eyes. A 2016 study explained that this practice of deliberate attention gradually transforms how you experience everything from morning coffee to conversations with loved ones.
An easy way to practice this is to look at a raisin and really contemplate it. Notice its color, its shape, its texture, its wrinkles, and other nuances of its makeup. This is a mindfulness practice that will inherently make you a more self-aware person.
3. They remember the magic of simply breathing
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Breath is the elixir of life. We hold our breath when we feel anxious or scared. We increase our breathing when we feel nervous or stressed. Yet, if you become conscious of your breath as a daily and frequent practice, you will notice a carryover effect of calmness, readiness, and self-awareness when stress pops up, allowing you to shift your breathing when stress occurs.
By cultivating a relationship with your breath through regular practice, you develop what researchers call interoceptive awareness, which is the ability to tune into your body's internal signals. This heightened awareness reveals your internal state before your mind has even processed what you're feeling.
4. They schedule extreme self-care
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Take a walk on the beach, in the woods, or by the water. Get a massage or pedicure. Anything that feels like a special treat for you, make time for it. You deserve this time to relax your mind after all you do for others.
A 2021 study stressed that caring for yourself isn't selfish; it's essential for maintaining the emotional and mental clarity and self-awareness needed to show up authentically in your relationships. By treating self-care as a non-negotiable task instead of a luxury you'll eventually get to, you maintain the ability to stay tuned into your thoughts, feelings, and needs.
5. They find a tribe
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Growth doesn't always happen in isolation; it flourishes in community with others who are equally committed to personal evolution and authentic living, a 2024 study suggested. Sometimes we need others to reflect back to us the truths we can't quite see on our own — even the most self-aware people have blind spots.
Join or create a group of like-minded people who are also on a path of "going out of their mind" on purpose. This could be a book club, art exchange, poetry reading, spiritual practice workshop, or just plain sharing of needs with other caring souls.
6. They write their thoughts down
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Use a journal (or write on your laptop) to dump what's on your mind so you have better self-awareness of your thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Who knows? Some beautiful things might surface in your writing that could help others. Or, you can keep these writings as your private narrative. Either way, this is an important outlet for freeing what's stuck in your mind.
Writing becomes a form of mental decluttering that frees up space. Research supports that journaling allows you to move through life with greater intentionality rather than being unconsciously driven by unexamined thoughts and unexpressed emotions.
7. They keep moving
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Take a yoga class. Play tennis, ride bikes (or horses), dance, run, walk, or engage in any other form of physical activity. Often, the process of moving our bodies frees up space in our minds. So, do something for your body today.
Physical movement serves as one of the most underrated pathways to self-awareness, creating a direct bridge between body and mind that naturally quiets mental chatter and brings you into the present moment.
Self-aware individuals make physical activity a non-negotiable part of their routine, and not just for fitness. Research recognizes movement as essential maintenance for mental and emotional clarity.
Dr. Pat Williams is a psychologist, Master Certified Coach, and Board Certified Coach.
