How To Understand Yourself More: 10 Ways to Grow Up and Get Serious
The self-awareness game can be tough. Sometimes you feel like you’re at the top of your game, while other days you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom and there’s no way out. The truth is that no one is operating at their best all the time. Self-awareness involves being able to accept that and make changes accordingly. Neglecting your self-awareness is one of the most common inner game mistakes that rookies in any field often fall into, but it can have devastating consequences if left unchecked. For some people, neglecting self-awareness leads to a downward spiral of negative thinking and behavior. Others take things even further; they begin questioning every detail about themselves, from their looks to their interests to even whether or not they were born on this planet (and if not, where did we come from?). It may seem like a bit much at first glance, but when you put it all together it makes perfect sense. Understanding yourself more deeply will help you stay grounded when things get hectic and grow up sooner rather than later so that you don’t continue living in a state of perpetual adolescence as an adult.
Stop comparing yourself to others.
When you’re comparing yourself to other people, you’re missing out on a lot of important information about what’s actually happening for them. You may be comparing yourself to people on social media who are perfect poster images of success and happiness. However, the real people behind those images may be dealing with serious issues like addiction or mental health problems. You may also be comparing yourself to celebrities or models who have no business being role models for real-life people. The truth is that there is no one exactly like you, so don’t waste your time trying to compare yourself to others. Instead, compare yourself to the standards that you set for yourself.
Be honest with yourself.
When you’re self-critical, you’re also likely to be dishonest with yourself. The truth is that no one is perfect, so you have to be honest with yourself and accept your flaws. If you’re constantly berating yourself for having a few pimples on your face or forgetting to put on your favorite outfit, then you’re not being honest with yourself. You have to be able to accept your good and your bad and be able to move forward from your mistakes, as well as your triumphs. If you don’t like the way that you dress, if you’re not good at certain things, or even if you just don’t know exactly what you want to do with your life, then be honest and say so. You don’t necessarily have to know the answers, but you do have to be able, to be honest with yourself.
Have conversations with your inner voice.
Life is short, and it’s important to make the most of every minute. If possible, try to have one-on-one conversations with your inner voice. You don’t necessarily have to agree with everything that your inner voice has to say, but you should at least have conversations with each other. Have conversations about what you like to do, what your interests are, and what goals you have. If you don’t know the answers to these things, then make a list and start jotting them down so that you can keep yourself accountable. If you need to, you can even start a blog so that you have a place to keep track of your thoughts and ideas. Be sure to show your inner voice that you’re listening to them and that you care about what they have to say.
Don’t let negative feedback from other people make you feel bad about yourself.
Be careful when other people tell you that you’re doing something wrong or that you’re not good enough. These are the types of negative feedback that can often have the most negative effects on your self-esteem. If you feel down because someone told you that you’re not good enough, then that’s a problem and you need to fix it. There’s nothing wrong with seeking feedback, but don’t let negativity about yourself affect your own feelings about yourself. If a person you know is always telling you that you’re not good enough, then you need to figure out what you need to do to change that. It’s not cool to ignore it, but don’t let it make you feel bad about yourself.
Take a break from the internet every now and then.
The internet is a great way to learn and grow, but it can also be a destructive force in your life. When you’re on social media every day, scrolling through your feed, seeing all of the things that you don’t have, and seeing all of the things that other people have, it can make you feel bad about yourself. When you’re scrolling through your newsfeed on Instagram, you may be seeing the latest fashion trends, or you might see people drinking alcohol, having sex, or using drugs. If you don’t have the life that you want to be living, but you’re seeing other people doing it, it can make you feel bad about yourself. Try to take a break every now and then from social media, so that you have time to reflect on your own life and what you have to be grateful for.
Practice gratitude routinely.
It’s easy to get caught up in the negative, especially if you’re constantly reading other people’s negative thoughts about yourself. Gratitude is a simple but powerful tool that can keep you from falling into the trap of negative thinking. Try writing down three things that you’re thankful for from that day. It doesn’t matter if it’s something small, like a cup of coffee or a hot shower, or something big, like the fact that you’re still alive. Doing this will help you see the good things in your life and help you refocus your energy. You shouldn’t have to be in a bad mood and feeling low in order to recognize what’s good in your life.
Stay engaged in activities that inspire you.
Sometimes the best way to stay positive and grow up is to get back to doing what you love. If you’ve been feeling down and have been tempted to binge-watch horrible reality TV or spend your time scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, then put your phone down, get out your guitar, and get to work on some of the things that you love. This can help you refocus your energy and remind you that you’re doing something good for yourself. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it fills you with passion, and reminds you why you’re doing it.
Wrapping up
Self-awareness can be tough, but it's a skill that can be learned and practiced. The sooner you start opening up to who you really are and what you need from life, the better. If you struggle with self-esteem and feel like you're living in a state of perpetual adolescence, then this article is definitely for you. The sooner you start learning ways to grow up and get serious, the sooner you'll be able to start living a happier and more fulfilling life.