Not self-obsessed… self-aware. Okay, maybe a little bit self-obsessed. But you don’t mean to be, and it’s not rooted in arrogance. You just know yourself really well. And that’s not a bad thing at all, though it can be a tad annoying at times. Here are 16 subtle signs you’re more self-aware than the average person.
1. You usually say the right thing.
Let’s be honest, you spend the majority of every conversation planning how to say exactly the right thing when there’s a pause. Sure, responding well is a great skill to have, but so is listening just to listen. Saying the “right thing” is definitely valuable, but it’s not always the most important.
2. If you slip up…you realize it immediately.
Inevitably, because you’re human, you’re to say the wrong thing, trip over your own feet, etc. And you’re likely going to be so aware of it that it will be physically painful. But seriously, let this be a comfort: you’re more aware than anyone else in the room and no one is paying more attention to you than you.
3. Meeting new people can be nerve-wracking.
Sometimes meeting new people can send your self-awareness into overdrive. You’re hyper-aware of how you’re standing, the pitch of your voice, the potentially visible sweat stains under your arms, and so on. You’re not just aware of yourself here, but you’re aware of the first impression you’re making. And that can be terrifying.
4. You know how to read a room.
You know that your grandma’s funeral is probably not the time to tell Grandpa that you never did like her cooking very much. Or that the five minutes following your friend’s confession regarding her fertility struggles is not the window to pass around an ultrasound photo. This seems like common sense to you, but trust me, it isn’t for everyone. God bless you!
5. Social events are super tiring.
All that “reading the room” you’re doing can be exhausting. You’re often hyper-aware of yourself in a crowd, and it can be incredibly draining. In social situations, you feel like you have to be “on,” and it’s a constant effort to put your best foot forward. You probably needed to follow that bridal shower with a nap—and not just because of what was in the punch!
6. You know your strengths.
You know where you excel. You know what you’re good at like how you can build any piece of furniture without the instructions (impressive!). You’re aware, not arrogant (hopefully) which makes things like drafting the “skills and strengths” portion of your resume easy for you (even if it’s shorter than you’d like)!
7. You also know your weaknesses.
No matter how much your friends begged, you didn’t put your name down for the company softball team. You are incredibly aware of your sporting skills (or lack thereof) and that’s awesome. You have no desire to be hyper-aware of how you look face-planting between home and first. No thanks, you’ll stick to karaoke at happy hour.
8. You know when you’re wrong.
Now, that doesn’t mean you admit it. You’d possibly die first. But you do at least know. That’s a step further than most people get. Pat yourself on the back. You can work on voicing your admission of wrong later.
9. In interpersonal conflict, you know why you’re upset.
You know your outburst about your partner forgetting to take out the trash really isn’t about the trash at all. You know it’s about feeling neglected on a much larger scale. Hopefully, the excellent awareness translates into your communication. If you can do that, you can definitely minimize the severity of your conflicts!
10. You’re more confident.
You know where you excel. You know you can do this job. You’ve got this, and you know it. You’re sure of it because you’re sure of yourself. Yay, you! All that self-awareness can be exhausting, but it’s not for nothing. Self-examination and awareness have led to you knowing exactly the kind of person you are, and you put yourself in places where you know you will thrive. Love that for you, friend!
11. Or, you may be less confident than you’d like.
Your particular brand of self-awareness may be more prone to focusing on your flaws. You may not feel confident at all, actually. That’s okay. Again, no one is paying as much attention to you as you. No one is harder on you than yourself!
12. You get irritated at the less aware.
Seriously, do people really just flit about acting like that? In public? You’re so self-aware, you can’t fathom anyone else going through life differently. Sure, maybe it would be nice to be a little less in your head. But not at the expense of acting like that.
13. You probably make your therapist’s job a little easier.
Being self-aware often comes with some degree of emotional intelligence. It doesn’t take you three months to figure out that your relationship problems stem from your dad’s emotional unavailability. You probably make your therapist feel more confident in their abilities—even if you do give them fewer billable hours.
14. You make decisions easily.
You know you don’t actually want to go to that concert. So you quickly say no, rather than “Can I get back to you?” You know you like to be comfortable, so you don’t even glance at the four-inch heels—even if they’re on sale. You know what you like, and that helps you make decisions without unnecessary stress. 99 problems you might indeed have, but decision fatigue is not one of them!
15. You are (hopefully) very empathetic.
You know what it’s like to be in your head, anxious about people’s perception of you. So when you see someone trying, you give them grace. You let them know that you see and appreciate their efforts. You’d want someone to do the same for you.
16. For better or for worse, you know who you are.
You know your strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Your emotional triggers are memorized. Your goals are ingrained. Try to focus as much as you can on what makes you amazing, because you are, indeed, amazing!
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