The uniquely human ability to recognize oneself, becoming aware of themselves, unlike the dogs while standing in front of a mirror, is a blessing. More than that is the blessing of being self-conscious, i.e., knowing yourself.
Let us begin from the beginning, the infant stage:
Developing the sense of self-awareness among people is accompanied by a complimentary state of self-consciousness also developed. Though self-awareness already exists among us, it is just a matter of five or six months that may be taken by an infant for developing anything, even self-consciousness in the slightest degree.
Many types of research focus on getting to know how the infants respond with their level of self-consciousness. Theses research were made possible through the use of mirror technique by the psychologists where they have used mirrors to test infants’ and toddlers’ levels of self-consciousness by merely placing or setting an infant in front of a mirror and looking at his or her response.
In the outcome of the research it was found out that 5 to 6-month-old kids were reaching out and touching the mirror image. Probably they estimated image to be another baby like them or slightly differing, leading to the fact that these toddlers develop self-consciousness in the slightest degree.
Self-consciousness and self-awareness are mirror reflections:
They are the same thing. When you know you are self-conscious, it just means you are aware of yourself.
Now here comes the point to be given a thought. As you know, anything in excess is as bad as too little. Perhaps, a person speaking that they are “self-conscious,” are conveying about any flaws in them that they are acquainted with. But this is not the type of self-consciousness dealt with here.
The above concept or viewpoint of self-consciousness is a falsely dichotomous perception that you cannot feel both embarrassed and procure confidence, simultaneously. The level of variation between untainted shame and self-consciousness is extensive. There is a limit to shame, and it is the habitat of hatred
for oneself. But self-awareness has no boundaries and is a habitat of humbleness and self-effacing. Being self-conscious holds the importance of benefiting everyone with the fruits of your awareness. It is not a natural phenomenon that we get acknowledged for our thoughts and perceptions. It is not a naturally occurring process that we can put ourselves in another’s state of mind. Instead, we humans are usually self-centered and unconscious individuals.
Let’s understand with an example.
What happens when we are stuck in traffic, cursing those around, passing by in a rush and speeding up? It is a situation where we don’t realize our self-centered nature is making us curse that someone else is getting in our way. Here we need first to understand ourselves informed of the other side story, of those rushing to beat the traffic time.
The reason may be a hurry to reach the hospital with a pregnant wife, a seriously ill family member, etc. Now understand the role of self-consciousness in this. You are unaware of things going around that seem to be insignificant; this is what it means to be self-conscious.
It is about living a life and being informed of the effect our activities have on others or living our lives consciously in other people’s state of mind. Cursing others in the traffic here is a natural course of action which is just how we subconsciously act upon these things.
But here acting in frustration just because things didn’t turn up our way, isn’t the right way. Here you need to follow a religious belief that being self-conscious protects you from being a sinner, as you will hesitate to hurt anyone.
Flip the situation:
Learn the state of self-conscious by merely flipping the situation where you are rushing, and somebody else is cursing you. Now realize how you feel with others cursing you.
Isn’t that hurting?
This simple thought can increase self-consciousness in every move you make. We always learn better when tables turn around.
Become Aware of Your Body:
Put up a few questions to yourself –
Where do I physically begin? Where do I physically stop? What part of my body is most important to my sense of self? With these questions, you start body awareness.
Being able to differentiate between your body and someone else’s body is crucial to self-consciousness. When you can do so, you are getting aware of yourself.
For example, the newborns whose physical connection with their breastfeeding mothers is undeniable, and a child’s realization of a sense of difference from the mother only develops in time.
Keep It Private:
How well are you informed of yourself? Always trying to figure out yourself focusing on your thoughts, feelings, motivations, and overall sense of self is called your “private self-consciousness,” i.e., looking within. But looking within a little too much is “privately spaced-out.”
The Show-Off Thing:
What happens when you are readily leaving for somewhere, and you arrive at the main door and suddenly realize forgetting something? Well, you are into making faces and gestures.
A sort of body language that you think is needed to not look silly walking here and there again, as of you need a reason. You feel someone might be having a watch on you. It is the invisible audience phenomenon. It is an example of the public self-consciousness, our sense of ourselves in the presence of others, our public image.
Mostly, the perspective of our public self-consciousness is associated with our awareness and focus on appearances. What are we spending billions of dollars a year on beautiful clothes, gym memberships, and diets for? That doesn’t count for anything. Our public self-consciousness is related to giving information about who we are and how we see ourselves.
A highly self-conscious state of yourself will lead you to a mindset that will make you think that someone or the other is having a watch on you and all your acts. Because of which your automatically developed fear pops up, that the watchers might comment on you. If this is happening regularly and you are always ending with the same feeling, then you will slowly stop moving socially.
Trying to please everyone is not at all required so don’t indulge in that habit. Live your life your way. Please, yourself to live happily and not others. The act of pleasing others will consequently reduce self-consciousness within you, as you will always be checking yourself in the worry of whether you will be able to impress others or not.
It is not a healthy way of living. The final results at your end will be a worse one, which will ruin all your thoughts. Therefore, better act generally without trying to impress others.
Conclusion:
When intentions are pure and right, it will attract each and everyone’s attention, which will ultimately fetch you the fame you desire to have.
Hence concluded, it is essential to pay attention to your tasks, on yourself rather than on the outcomes, as it is said that we are free to choose our actions but not free to select the consequences.
Don’t make others comfortable, but make yourself comfortable by being interestingly aware of yourself.
Introduce higher dimensions of consciousness into your awareness and fill yourself with positive thoughts for a positive change.
Becoming self-conscious is definitely worth a shot.
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