1. Recognizing Past Mishaps and Your Role in Them

One of the most effective ways to cultivate self-awareness is by reflecting on past experiences, especially those that didn’t go as planned. Ask yourself:

• What happened?
• How did I react?
• Did my actions contribute to the outcome?
• What could I have done differently?

This isn’t about dwelling on mistakes or feeling guilty—it’s about learning and growing. Taking responsibility for your actions (without self-judgment) helps you understand patterns in your behavior and make better choices moving forward. If you can determine the times you are part of the problem, you’ve granted yourself the ability to be a part of the solution!

2. Personality Assessments: A Deep Dive Into How You Operate

Personality assessments like the Enneagram, Clifton Strengths, and Culture Index offer incredible insights into why you think and act the way you do.

• The Enneagram helps you uncover your core motivations, fears, and behavioral tendencies. Understanding your type—and the types of those around you—can dramatically improve communication and emotional intelligence. I have used the heck out of this assessment to become more self aware, but to also realize that everyone doesn’t come from the same motivation. The reason someone may act a way that seems irrational to me, may be because of a reason that doesn’t resonate with me. Being able to understand and empathize with that makes it so much easier to work well with others. For reference, I am an 8 on the Enneagram!
• The Clifton Strengths assessment is wonderful for knowing what you are good at and really being able to understand which strengths you should maximize on and which weaknesses you should let someone else handle. My Clifton Strengths are: Command, Activator, Competition, Communication, and Strategic
• The Culture Index is great for workplace dynamics, helping teams align based on personality strengths. This is one of my favorite surveys ever for working relationships as well as personal ones. It helps us understand the hardwiring of others. When I can better understand behaviors like taking ownership, communication, pace, and conformity, I can both coach and work better with the people I work with.

When you combine self-awareness with an understanding of how others operate, you become a more effective communicator and leader.

3. Communication: How Others Perceive You

You may have a certain perception of yourself, but how does the world see you? The best way to find out is to ask for feedback.

• Reach out to close friends, colleagues, or mentors and ask, “How do I come across to you?” or “What’s one thing you think I could improve?”
• Be open to constructive criticism—it’s a gift, not an attack.
• Notice recurring themes in feedback. If multiple people mention the same thing, it’s worth exploring.

Self-awareness grows when we bridge the gap between how we see ourselves and how others experience us.

4. Acceptance of Who You Are & Vision for Who You Want to Become

True self-awareness isn’t just about recognizing patterns—it’s also about accepting yourself while striving for growth.

• What are your strengths? Own them.
• What are your weaknesses? Improve them without self-judgment.
• Who do you want to become? Define your vision and take intentional steps toward it.

Growth doesn’t mean rejecting who you are—it means refining the best version of yourself.

What has helped you become more self-aware? Share your thoughts in the comments!