Tell me exactly why you chose to read this article.

Is it curiosity? Is it a need for confirmation? Comfort?

Whichever one it is, it’s already a telling sign of you being self-aware. 

Trust me, people who aren’t self-aware aren’t running to this article or any other article like it. People who are not self-aware won’t go to any lengths to find this information. 

In a way, I find it fascinating (and a little cute) that the more self-aware you are, the more you wish to confirm it. 

So if you recognize these 11 signs, you’re more self-aware than the average person. (What are you gonna do about it?)

Let’s go.

1) You know your strengths

Berkeley Well-being Institute defines strengths as “positive character traits or skills that are considered positive. Strengths include knowledge, attributes, skills, and talents.”

Do you know your strengths? Do you know what you’re good at? Excel at? 

If you do, then you’re likely more self-aware than the average person. 

And you don’t have to feel shy about knowing your strengths, it’s just a part of you that you can be proud of. Also, when you know where your strengths lie, you can apply yourself better.

2) You know your weaknesses

In the reverse of the previous point, do you know your weaknesses? Do you know where you suck at? Where you need help with? So, so bad at? 

I, for one, suck at math. I’m also navigationally challenged, but I’ve learned my workarounds. I’m also really, really bad at asking for help so this is something I’ve been working on.

And that’s the thing! Knowing your weakness allows you to work on it if you want. Knowing your weakness should not end in knowing it. 

Knowing my strengths also allows me peace as well. For example, I may be bad at math but I’m great at learning languages. I may be bad at directions, but I’m GREAT at making travel itineraries.

Logistics? I’m great at that, too. 

It’s all in the balance.

3) You are accountable

Shifting blame, dodging responsibility, and making excuses are easier for others to do than to be accountable.

Far, far, easier. (If you’ve ever been in an argument with someone like this, you understand the mental gymnastics it takes.)

However, as someone self-aware, you have learned how to be accountable for your actions. You take full responsibility for the effects of your decisions.

Heck, you know your impact. You know what you’re capable of. You know that what you do can directly and indirectly affect others and you accept your part in the cycle. 

4) You can accept a compliment

Look, compliments can be difficult to accept. Even the most heartfelt compliment can make us cringe. It’s normal and very human. 

However, it might be easier for you to accept a compliment if you’re self-aware because you understand your merits. You accept when you’ve done a good job. You accept the cheers for your job well done. 

5) You don’t take criticisms to heart

In the same way that compliments can be difficult to accept, criticisms can also put a lot of people in a tizzy. No matter if constructive or destructive in nature, criticisms can take one by surprise. 

They can also hurt.

If you’re self-aware though, you might have an easier time dealing with it. This isn’t me saying that being self-aware makes you agreeable to destructive criticisms, that’s not it at all. 

All I’m saying is that constructive criticisms are taken gracefully and destructive ones are put where it needs to be: the trash.

You don’t take criticisms to heart, you’re aware that it is not who you are and that it doesn’t define you. 

6) You know you’re not the smartest person in any given room

You live your life by this quote “Having access to people smarter than you is a blessing, not a threat.”

It’s a lesson that many don’t get to learn in their lifetimes, it’s a lesson that a lot of people would rather not accept. 

But not you, right?

You thrive in knowing there are people you can learn from because this isn’t truly about who’s the smartest, it’s about growth. 

7) You’re growth-oriented 

Since I already mentioned growth, let’s talk about that. 

Non-profit organization Understood explains growth mindset, “Growth mindset describes a way of viewing challenges and setbacks. People who have a growth mindset believe that even if they struggle with certain skills, their abilities aren’t set in stone. They think that with work, their skills can improve over time.”

Along with this growth mindset is the ability to give yourself the grace to make mistakes. You remain kind to yourself in the face of failure.

And yeap, you read that right. It’s looking at failure as a natural part of success and not the opposite of it. 

It’s an uncommon idea, isn’t it?

For so long we are taught that failure is bad, that there is no room for it in success. There is room for it in success though, it’s where innovation happens. 

And you know this. You live by this. You understand that your character is not dictated by your failures but instead what you choose to do with it. 

8) You’re kind to yourself

Kindness, always. It might seem sentimental to say this, but a self-aware person would agree with me.

In this day and age, kindness can be radical. In a world that seems to be pushing us to hate ourselves, you refuse it and remain kind. You remain gentle to yourself. You remain gracious. 

And this? This can be difficult to achieve for some people (me included! I’m still working on it) and it probably didn’t come easy for you either. 

And yet, you’re here, flawed but tenacious, imperfect and kind.  

9) You don’t fear the unknown too much

Armed with your knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses and your hunger for growth, you have long since stopped excessively fearing the unknown.

Now, the unknown is exciting. The unknown presents an opportunity. You’re no longer apprehensive of what you cannot control because you understand how capable you truly are.

You are aware of what you are made of, and you know that what you are made of can withstand the unknown. 

Of course, this isn’t blind courage, there’s still a healthy level of apprehension when the unknown is a variable. However, it’s objective; and risks are only taken if they’re calculated. 

10) You don’t compete with others

When you’re aware of your capabilities, your weaknesses, your triumphs, and even your losses, then envy and jealousy won’t burrow in your heart. 

Why would it when you’re focused on your own goals? Your own path? Your own dreams?

When you’re focused on your growth and healing, only empathy will remain for others in the same boat.

And that’s also why you celebrate others, too. 

11) You clap for others

Being happy for others is not a joy that’s being shared around enough. Truly. 

So thanks for being on this train of clapping for others. 

Being self-aware makes you stop treating everyone like they’re competition. Being self-aware made you understand that we’re all just doing the best we can with what we’re given. 

In the same way that you treat yourself kindly because you understand the struggle, you do it for others, too.

One last thing before you go

What you realize about yourself is not all that you are. It’s all you were, all you are, and all you can be. To be self-aware is to understand what got you through, to be self-aware is to understand what will propel you.

And yes, self-awareness may have its benefits, but it can also bring sadness. The truth, while helpful, can still be brutal to digest. It may take a while. 

To be self-aware is to understand your limitations. To be self-aware is to know your potential. 

What you do with this knowledge is what will further mold your character. 

Hang in there and may fortune favor you.