Cultivate the sense of self, a path towards ourselves

Sometimes we worry so much about our external world that we are not aware of our existence. How to be? How to flourish in our relationship with others, without leaving aside our authentic self? Cultivating a sense of self is a path that can lead us to this.

In this article we will address the beliefs, representations, perceptions, images, determinations, and values, among other issues, associated with a person. We will immerse ourselves in the world of the self and explore the possibilities that cultivating it gives us.

To begin, we will approach the definition of the self. Later, we will talk about the authentic self and address some tips to connect with our most genuine side. In addition, we will show you how to cultivate our sense of self in a comprehensive way.

What is the sense of self?

The sense of self has been a concept addressed by different disciplines, such as psychology and philosophy. Its exact meaning is still under discussion, but What we know today is that it is a multidimensional concept. The self is composed of the physical, the social, the mental, the personal and the familiar.

The word self is translated as I or himself. However, approaches to this concept are diverse depending on the branch of psychology. Let’s see:

Social psychology. It consists of a construction that the person makes that originates from their interactions with others. In fact, Pablo Páramo in his publication in the Latin American Journal of Psychology, shows us how the sense of self is a product of the individual’s transactions with his social and psychological environments; That is, identity and self would arise through cultural and social elements.Psychoanalysis. It is an organizer of the person’s memories, the consciousness of the mind and reality, and the different images of oneself. This concept changes depending on the author, since it is usually differentiated between real, idealized and current self.Humanism. It is associated with a process of self-realization that drives action.Comprehensive psychology. It is a whole made up of biological, environmental, behavioral, cognitive, emotional and consciousness systems that have to do with personality. In addition, the meaning that the person gives to each experience is included here.

Also, The sense of self is linked to the level of consciousness we have about ourselves, together with our ability to integrate various cognitive, emotional, social, physical processes, etc. On the other hand, by being aware of who we are, we build our identity; Through the sense of self we process and organize it, while we express it through our personality.

The sense of authentic self

To enhance a sense of authentic self, It is necessary to intervene in all fields of our development. But the first essential step is to undertake a journey towards the depths of our being. The idea is that we meet there and know what we are like in each of the areas in which we operate. Also, understand what our goals are.

It’s about connecting with what we are and being in tune with it. So, it is essential to recognize and accept our limitations, work on our irrational beliefs and show ourselves without masks.

On the other hand, It is essential to work on our consciousness, since we can advance more and more. The idea is to take advantage of the present moment, find ourselves and let ourselves flow. To do this, we must become more flexible and attend to each of the fields of our development.

How to cultivate our sense of self?

Developing a strong sense of self will help us find our own voice, be more authentic and promote our overall well-being. This is not an impossible matter. Let’s see how we can cultivate our sense of self:

Let’s differentiate ourselves. It is about distinguishing ourselves from our environment by being more aware. This also means making decisions that are in line with who we are. To do this, we need to set limits, in addition to taking our time.Reflect. It is essential to have a conversation with ourselves to explore new ways of being who we are and knowing where we want to go. It is about observing ourselves and negotiating with ourselves, emphasizing our feelings, thoughts and interactions.Emphasize our automatic responses It consists of paying attention to our decisions. To do this, we need to take time, sometimes we act from automatism and are not in tune with our sense of authentic self.Challenges? Rather, opportunities! When we face difficult situations in life we ​​can see them as an opportunity to decide who we are and what we are capable of doing.Act. It is not only about thinking and feeling in accordance with our authentic self, we can also execute actions that are in tune with it.

The sense of self can be authentic, but we can also have a sense of the ideal self. According to Rollo May, pioneer of existentialist psychology, it has to do with that self that we long to be and to which we assign a higher value. When our sense of real self differs from the ideal, we become dissatisfied.

In short, the sense of self can be cultivated; the closer it is to the genuine, the healthier. To achieve its greatest potential we must be attentive to all our fields of development. Consciousness and self-knowledge help us on this path, two wonderful tools to find ourselves.

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