The Power of Self-Awareness in Transforming Your Life

Self-awareness has become a buzzword lately, but for good reason. When you see yourself clearly, you unlock incredible potential—becoming more confident, creative, and effective in your decisions. You build stronger relationships and communicate more openly. You not only feel better about yourself, but you’re also able to approach life with clarity and purpose.

In my coaching, I emphasize the importance of self-awareness because it’s at the core of long-lasting personal growth. Understanding yourself deeply is essential for addressing anxiety, stress, or any other emotional challenges you're facing. When we get to the root of your thoughts, reactions, and emotions, we can create a toolkit that helps you move through life with purpose and emotional resilience.

Two Types of Self-Awareness

When I work with clients, I help them recognize two types of self-awareness. The first is internal self-awareness—how clearly you understand your values, passions, aspirations, and how these connect to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This is critical for finding true alignment and satisfaction in life.

The second is external self-awareness—how others perceive you. This matters because understanding how others see you can help you improve relationships, communicate more effectively, and live a more balanced life.

It’s important to recognize that being high in one type of self-awareness doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be high in the other. Some people are very in tune with their internal world but have little understanding of how they come across to others. In my coaching, we focus on balancing both.

Experience and Power Can Block Self-Awareness

Interestingly, power and experience can sometimes work against our ability to see ourselves clearly. Often, the more successful or experienced someone becomes, the harder it is for them to gain honest feedback from others. People might be reluctant to speak up, or you might start believing you don’t need to listen anymore.

But self-awareness doesn’t stop once you’ve achieved a certain level of success. There’s always more to learn about yourself, and maintaining a growth mindset is essential. I encourage my clients to seek feedback from people they trust—those who have their best interests in mind, but aren’t afraid to tell them the truth.

Why “What” Questions Are More Effective Than “Why”

Many of us think that introspection is the key to self-awareness. But how we introspect is just as important as the act itself. Most people ask themselves “why” questions—like, "Why do I feel this way?" or "Why did this happen?" The problem with this is that it often leads to rumination and false conclusions.

Instead, I encourage clients to ask “what” questions. These help you focus on the future and empower you to take action. For example, instead of asking, "Why do I always feel anxious?" you can ask, "What can I do to respond differently when I feel anxious?"

“What” questions open the door to solutions rather than keeping you stuck in a cycle of self-blame or frustration. This subtle shift in how you reflect on your experiences can make a huge difference in your personal growth.

How Self-Awareness Transforms Your Life

By working on both internal and external self-awareness, and by shifting from “why” to “what,” you can gain clarity that will help you move forward in your life with confidence. Whether you're trying to improve your relationships, reduce anxiety, or simply live a more fulfilling life, self-awareness is key.

Through my coaching, I help clients embrace their anxiety and accept their emotions without judgment. Once you understand why you react the way you do, you can start retraining your brain to respond to challenges with more ease and resilience.

Self-awareness isn’t a one-time achievement—it’s an ongoing process of growth. But the rewards—better relationships, more confidence, and a life lived in alignment with your values—are well worth the effort.