Self-Perception

You are constantly aware. Of who you are. “I would never behave in such a manner,” you might assert.

Without realizing it, you are not just comparing yourself to the other; you are also self-evaluating.

The concept is called self-perception and you are doing it all the time whether you like it or not.

So what is self-perception and why is your brain making you spend inordinate amounts of time on it?

Think of self-perception as a calibration tool. A tool that allows you to evaluate where you are relative to the world.

It manifests in both thinking and action. You would use it to distance yourself physically if you were too close to someone, for example, and also use it to guide your behavior.

Both require you to be aware of where you are relative to the world around you.

The concept was first suggested by Professor Daryl Bem, who taught at Cornell University.

You know what is really interesting? Your self-perception changes depending on who you are with and the circumstances you find yourself in.

So you might find yourself believing you are a responsible sensible type in a work environment and the exact opposite with your childhood friends.

Your sense of self can change on a dime.

What is even more confusing is that each time you evaluate yourself, it might not be accurate. You can self-decieve.

So you could tell yourself you are a very dedicated and committed person when you are anything but.

Which brings me to the notion of self-awareness.

Self-awareness is the ability to evaluate what you believe and say to yourself and distill fact from fiction. What do you actually see when you look in the mirror.

Painful as it may be, your goal should be to shift self-perception to self-awareness.

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