Personal Development- Knowing the Self Part 1

Personal Development- Knowing the Self

1. Module 1: knowing the self Prepared by: Mrs. April Joy D. Tayam

2. Objectives: Show evidence as to the understanding of the “self” and self-concept; Learn the theories and principles on how one develops self-identity; Evaluate the Johari Window as a way to identify the self; Determine the value of knowing and appreciating the self.

3. The 'self' is defined as the individuality of a person which is the subject of learning experiences, varied emotions and thoughts. One's concept of the self is not readily evident as one unfolds his consciousness. Self-concept becomes a product of the thorough learnings that one derives both from his 'nature' or biological inheritance represented by one's genes and by the environment also known as 'nurture'.

4. CASE ANALYSIS

5. Essen is 16 years of age and has been constantly problematic about her weight. She considers her weight and built as a great burden in her life as she thought that her classmates since grade school and high school have tagged her as 'fatty Essen'. She constantly was bullied for this and so she had to cease from befriending anybody, not even the neighbors' kids. She was resigned to this reality and even found herself ugly and dirty compared to her schoolmates.

6. This concept about her looks prevented her from joining social events including their school's 'Junior-Senior Prom’ and even Intramurals where she would just stay in one corner while appearing to be busy with her phone. She would be very elusive to any attempt of any acquaintance who would converse with her. She thought that nobody would be serious about somebody as “fat and ugly” like her.

7. How does Essen see herself? Why is it that she does not want to make friends? How do these issues affect her life as an individual? How do you think can such issue be resolved?

8. The Johari Window model which is a four-quadrant grid was developed by American psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955 at the University of California Los Angeles .

9. The four quadrants are:

10. Knowing oneself Learning about ourselves, our wants, desires, interests, thoughts and the like allows not only a more understanding of what we are but what we want and what will make us happy. Determining each area is like building a jigsaw puzzle. Such can bring contentment from within us which eventually can lead us to attain peace with in ourselves, our family, our friends, community and society.

11. The micro perspective can lead to the understanding of the macro level. Our evolution and unfolding from different facets such as creating a more 'open self' can demonstrate the importance of open communication, self-disclosure and accepting feedbacks from the significant others .

12. How Do we get to know ourselves?

13. 1. Introspection or self-analysis A more in-depth analysis of the self can be initiated by asking a question that may be thought provoking thus leading to a series of sub questions or queries about the self.

14. Such questions may include: “Who am I?” “What do I really want?” “Why am I here?” “What will become of me?”

15. 2. Keep a self-reflective journal Creating a self-reflective journal means getting any notebook to jot and record self-reflection. You usually choose a notebook to write your self-reflections in.

16. Positive self-reflection is an analysis or assessment of the self while focusing on the strengths and the abilities, skills, potentials . This is to pay attention on the good side of the self to motivate the 'self .‘ Negative self-reflection is an analysis of the self-based on our weaknesses, but most especially those failures so as to have an acceptance and further growth through analysis of what the shortcomings of the individual are.

17. 3. Be self-aware This is a skill where we Tune in to our feelings, thoughts and actions to understand how it affects us and the significant others in our life. It is necessary to 'see one's self' and not how other sees us. What matters is how we regard ourselves and not how other regards us.

18. In this activity it is imperative to analyze the following : Errors in what we have done. b . One's feelings about some significant events in our lives. c . Other's people's needs and feelings. d . How we affect other people. e . What we can do to address some issues in our lives.

19. 4. self-affirmation Create a Mantra that focuses on your inner strength and beauty. b. Be grateful that you are alive, normal and productive. c. Love yourself.