Today is Day 1 of Elevo’s SEL Week. Each day this week, we will be focusing on a different CASEL competency, diving deep into the elements that inform our WASC-accredited curriculum. Today’s competency is self-awareness.
Have you ever met anyone who is incredibly aware of the way they react to their situation? Maybe they are very aware of how their cultural background impacts the way they see the world, and the many biases that may come along with that. They might be careful to use “I statements” and feeling words when speaking about their emotions. Someone who fits these categories is most likely very self-aware.
Self-awareness is the ability to understand your emotions, values, and thoughts, and how they can influence your behavior in different situations and contexts. It can also help you see your own strengths and challenges while staying grounded in reality. It builds confidence, self-direction, and empathy for others.
You may also see self-awareness in others. Those who are self-aware have the ability to notice the way they react to the world around them. They may also be able to successfully examine their own biases, understanding what it takes to move past them. Self-aware people can even identify the parts of their personality, culture, and environment that serve them.
Additionally, when a person has strong self-awareness, they are able to use setbacks as growth opportunities. This is something we work to help our students realize. As they use self-awareness to identify their emotions, adopt a growth mindset, and cultivate new interests and talents, our coaches support them every step of the way. We also help our students look inward with mindfulness exercises that help them recenter. Finally, our coaches encourage our students to practice reflection, fostering discussion about how each part of the lesson made them feel.
When holding Elevo sessions, our coaches also highlight our Word of the Week, one of 12 SEL skills that help our students understand each part of the CASEL framework. Check out these videos on Words of the Week that relate specifically to how we can cultivate self-awareness:
- Awareness: How can we be more mindful and present in their day to day lives?
- Purpose: How can we use our talents, skills, and interests to make a positive impact on the world?
Self-awareness isn’t built in a day. It requires a lot of reflection, mindfulness, and patience with yourself. As you learn to be more present, you’ll be able to measure your thoughts and actions against your internal standards, helping you expand your perspective. Your growth mindset will thank you.
