BSHS 465 WEEK 1 Self Awareness Video Analysis

Self Awareness Video Analysis

BSHS 465

Self Awareness Video Analysis

It is important to understand the role of self-awareness within the human services field. Understanding the dynamics of being self-aware, and how to increase this ability are imperative for the human services provider. Emotional intelligence is also a large part of being self-aware. If one looks at Daniel Goleman’sand the Emotional Intelligence video for a definition of emotional intelligence, one can better understand the meaning behind the term. It also enables one to enact different strategies in relation to work-life to become more self-aware and emotionally intelligent. Understanding why a well-developed sense of self-awareness is imperative to the human services professional. It is also vital to appreciate how it has an effect of the human services field.

Self-Awareness Definition

Merriam Webster gives the definition of self-awareness to be: “knowledge and awareness of your own personality or character” (“self–awareness,” 2016). Understanding one’s self is a part of being self-aware. It is knowing one’s limits, strengths, personality, thoughts, beliefs, motivations, and emotions (“Pathway to Happiness”, 2016). Further, according to “Pathway to Happiness” (2016), “We might quickly assume that we are self aware, but it is helpful to have a relative scale for awareness.” (Self Awareness).

Increasing Self-Awareness

According to “Pathway to Happiness” (2016), “Self awareness is developed through practices in focusing your attention on the details of your personality and behavior.” (Develop Self Awareness). Meditation, journaling key plans and priorities, taking psychometric tests, asking trusted friends, and receiving regular feedback at work are just some of the ways to increase self-awareness (Tjan, 2016). Being self-aware, and working towards this skill necessitates the understanding of personal history as well as desires for the future. George (2016), “Your narrative identity is the story of your life; but it’s more than just a story. How you understand your narrative frames both your current actions and your future goals” (Know Thyself: How to Develop Self-Awareness). To further self-awareness one can also understand their life story, create daily habits of self-reflection, and seek honest feedback (George, 2016). These are similar to the five mentioned above in shortened response, and clarify the tasks needed for a growing self-awareness.

Emotional Intelligence

According to Goleman, emotional intelligence is in reference to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Goleman theorizes that there are four parts to emotional intelligence: self-management, self-awareness, empathy, and social skills (Goleman, 2016). The definition of self management is: “management of or by oneself; the taking of responsibility for one’s own behavior and well-being” (“self-management,” 2016). Self-management is essentially person responsibility for one’s actions, reactions, thoughts, and behavior. The importance of this aspect within emotional intelligence is that one is aware of their self, and is accountable for them. According to Merriam Webster (2016), self-awareness (as defined above) is the knowledge of one’s character, feelings, motives, and desires. According to Oxford Dictionaries (2016), empathy is the ability to appreciate and share the feelings of others. Empathy is significant to emotional intelligence because without it one cannot appreciate the feelings of others. Having the capacity for appreciation of others emotions increases emotional intelligence because it creates an awareness and sympathy for others. According to Oxford Dictionaries (2016), social skills is being able to interact normally within society. Essentially, the meaning to this is that one can act/react within the confines of social normality to situations. This is inclusive of all the above skills (self-management, self-awareness, and empathy) because it is the basic skill needed to function within the human services field. If one does not possess the above skills, they can be learned through the progression of emotional intelligence. “EQ is the emotional counterpart to IQ.” (Films on demand, 1998). Further, emotional intelligence is “a source of information, energy, influence, and connection in the body.” (Films on demand, 1998)

Strategies: Work-Life Choices

Emotional intelligence – including self-awareness – is in part leadership qualities needed for work-life choices. Following established agency policies when working with a client not only institutes rapport but it also creates for an equal opportunity of all clients to receive the same services. An example of this would be not bending/breaking the rules for one client because one feels that they need that extra assistance to have success. Another example of this would be to take leadership in defining policies where they are nonexistent. Having a high emotional intelligence for this aspect leads to one being appreciative of all the needs that need to be meet when defining new policies – or modifying old ones.

Applying self-awareness to work life can seem simple. However, it is through constant self-evaluation that one can maintain emotional intelligence and self-awareness. It is about being honest – sometimes brutally – with oneself. One needs to know their strengths and weaknesses. One strategy that could be used to accomplish this is to sit in front of a mirror, and self-evaluate actions of the day/week/month. Another strategy is to ask for others opinions. One strategy that can be less aggressive than self-evaluation or opinions of others is to take formal assessment tests. All of these strategies can be utilized to know where one is beginning on the emotional intelligence scale while also focusing on areas that one needs to seek more development in.

Self-Awareness Importance

The importance of being self-aware within the field of human services is: increased capacity of the provider to objectively meet the needs of clients; builds self-esteem which translates to positivity for clients; assists in building rapport; and decreases stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue for the human services provider.

According to “Change Management Coach” (2016), “Self awareness is the essential building block for emotional intelligence. Becoming self aware is a journey and we’ll probably spend a life time learning about ourselves. But as we improve self awareness we also improve our experience of life, create opportunities for better work life balance, become aware of our emotions, and improve our ability to respond to change.” (Self Awareness).

If we ignore feelings, they can resurface and cause conflicts (Nathanson, 2016). In being self-aware, a human services professional can be more effectual because they understand their emotions, and usually have established coping mechanisms to keep work and home life separate.

Effects on the Human Services Field

Human services professionals are managers of sorts. Nathanson (2016), “The self-aware manager understands this and thinks through decisions and communications with others before acting. The self-aware manager tends to be calmer, have more empathy, and able to think through challenges much better.” (The Importance of Self-Awareness). In the human services field, the human services providers are in part manager as well as support with clients. Being effectual in this role encompasses the need to be emotionally intelligent and self-aware. How one acts/reacts changes how their clients will act/react. The client and the human services professional have a relationship. According to “Pathway to Happiness” (2016), “Having a clear understanding of your thought and, behavior patterns helps you understand other people. This ability to empathize facilitates better personal and professional relationships” (Self Awareness in Relationships).

Conclusion

Understanding the definition of self-awareness is imperative to the human services professional. Through understanding the definition, one can appreciate the dynamics of self-awareness while being able to increase their competency with this skill. Emotional intelligence is an integral part of one being self-aware. Looking at Daniel Goleman’sexplanation and the Emotional Intelligence video for anunderstanding, one better prepares themselves for being self-aware. Having this understanding enables ones to enact different strategies to be successful in the realm of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Having a well-developed sense of self-awareness increases the ability of the human services provider while creating an appreciation for the effects within the field of human services.

References

Change management coach. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.change-management-coach.com/self-awareness.html

Empathy. (2016). In Oxford dictionaries. Retrieved from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/empathy

Films on demand. (1998). Emotional intelligence [Multimedia]. Retrieved from Films on demand, BSHS 465 – Professional Development and Identity website.

George, B. (2016). Psychology today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-is-your-true-north/201509/know-thyself-how-develop-self-awareness

Goleman, D. (2016). Daniel Goleman. Retrieved from http://www.danielgoleman.info/daniel-goleman-how-self-awareness-impacts-your-work/

Nathanson, C. (2016). Self growth. Retrieved from http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/the_importance_of_selfawareness

Pathway to happiness. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.pathwaytohappiness.com/self-awareness.htm

Self–awareness. (2016). In Merriam Webster. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self–awareness

Self-management. (2016). In Oxford dictionaries. Retrieved from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/self-management

Tjan, A. K. (2016). Harvard business review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2015/02/5-ways-to-become-more-self-aware