Self Awareness

Self awareness is defined generally as conscious knowledge of one's own character and feelings. 

To a  large extent it is quite true.  At the same time, the concept of 'character' also has to include other aspects of human existence - gender, caste, race, religion, region, linguistic affiliation, education, occupation, marital status etc.

I have noticed  people reacting to all these above mentioned elements in  work places, or clubs or in any other general gathering.

I am putting across a few questions that arise in human minds in social situations:

     Why does this man cry?

     Why does this woman talk so loudly and fast?

     This person must be from  that community.

     I am scared of  that man. He is huge.

     Listen to the language she/he speaks.

     She/he is so fair and beautiful/handsome.

Self awareness, to me, would be becoming aware of these emotional responses and thoughts springing from our hearts and brains when we negotiate with other humans. It does not involve categorisation of  our human character into good and bad. Instead, it is the ability to observe ourselves in a detached and objective manner. 

Self awareness, therefore, cannot be an end product. As we keep learning and changing every moment, self awareness is an infinite, endless process.

In that case, what are the material benefits of cultivating self awareness?

Leadership, at all levels - in the family, in the office, in the country - will perform better if it is empowered with self awareness. It lends a certain non - quantifiable charm to the person who practices the process of detached observation of one's self. It leads to the development of a certain sense of humour, it lends a  certain mild benign attitude and helps tremendously in rapport building.

After all, we have nothing to lose with  developing the ability for self awareness, but will lead us to peace slowly, but steadily.