1) The document discusses the importance of self-awareness for happiness and success in life. It defines self-awareness as an awareness of one's own personality and individuality. 2) It recommends two tools for achieving self-awareness: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test and the Strong Interest Inventory test. 3) Once someone has started becoming more self-aware through assessments, the process requires continuous reflection and reevaluation as people's perceptions change over time. Maintaining self-awareness can improve self-concept, self-esteem and decision-making.

1. Jason Chene<br />Speech/Online<br />Self-awareness<br />Tao Tzu said, “Knowing other people is wisdom, knowing your self is enlightenment.” As every day passes I become more enlightened through the process of self-awareness. Knowing who we are and why we behave the way we do is essential to our happiness and success in life.<br />Self-awareness is a process that can be used effectively to improve ones, self-concept, self-esteem, and decision making.<br />To better help you understand this process; I will discuss what self-awareness is by definition and example. I will inform you of two tools you can use to attain self-awareness (MBTI and SII). Lastly, I will discuss what to do once you have begun the process of self-awareness.<br />I started my college career with no clue what major to select. I just wasn’t sure what I could or couldn’t handle. I went eight terms with an undeclared major. Now I am three classes away from an associate of science in general studies. Last term I took my first self-awareness class. Had I taken this class my first term I would have chosen a major, more importantly I would have chosen a different major. <br />So what is Self-awareness? Merriam-Webster defines self-awareness as an awareness of one’s own personality or individuality. Albert Ellis, an early psychologist and creator of Rational Emotive Therapy, felt that human beings are largely responsible for creating their own emotional reactions and disturbances. He used a process called cognitive reconstruction, which dealt with replacing the thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that maintain an individual’s problem. Telling yourself you are worthless, or that you cannot accomplish something is damaging to you self-concept, and can create depressing, and reclusive behavior. Telling yourself you will work harder to get it next time will create motivation giving that person something to work towards.<br />So, how can one attain self-awareness? The best tools are self-assessment test. The most widely used is the Myer Briggs personality type indicator. Many of the Fortune 500 companies use this assessment in their hiring process. People can fall into 16 personality types. The test is simple enough to comprehend, and easy to take. I myself am an E.N.T.P, but you’ll have to take the assessment to find out what that means. Test such as the MBTI are a great way to understand your personality a little better.<br />Another great tool for self-awareness in the workplace is the Strong Interest Inventory. This assessment measures your interest in four categories of career related interest; General Occupational Themes, Basic Interest Scale, Personal Styles Scale, and Occupational Scale. Knowing where you will be happiest in the work place is vital to your success. Do a job you hate and you will find no amount of money may be worth the hassles of the job. Confucius said, “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.” What could be better than getting paid to do “nothing”? <br />So what do you do now that you have begun the journey into self-awareness? The answer is more research. Self-awareness is a continuous process that is worthy of mastery. The more assessments you take the more “enlightened” you’ll become. The more enlightened you become the better your self-image will be. Naturally, the more positive we see ourselves the better we begin to feel about ourselves, raising our self-esteem. When we become more confident, we lose the fear of failure and are better able to make important decisions. <br />So in conclusion, remember that self-awareness is a process that when used effectively, and when taken serious, can improve one’s self-concept, self-esteem, and decision making. Self-awareness can be defined as an awareness of one’s own personality and individuality, and tools like the MBTI and SII can get you started on your path to self-discovery. Once you have started the process, don’t stop. Take a look at your interest and determine if they are possible, or if you have physical limitation that prevent you pursuing your interest. Take a look at your personality. Do you have morals that may conflict with a career you’re pursuing? Knowing what connects, or conflicts you, is the vehicle that drives self-awareness. Keep in mind that as we grow older or perceptions change. The way we feel and how we interact with the world around us changes with it. Therefore, we are all in constant need of reevaluation. Discover what you are truly happy doing. Discover your gifts, and embrace them. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”<br />