Why Self-Awareness is Key to Personal Growth
Photo by Cristofer Maximilian on Unsplash
We can all feel lost at times. I know I have. And as I write this blog, I feel a bit lost too. I’m still searching for a job after taking a career break, hoping against hope that I can get my life back on track.
During this time of uncertainty, one thing has helped me stay grounded, and this is self-awareness.
You see, by understanding my thoughts, my feelings, my emotions, and my behaviours has been a powerful compass. While that understanding hasn’t removed any of the challenges I face, it has helped me navigate them with a greater sense of clarity.
Question. Have you noticed how some people face challenges with focus and resilience, while others find themselves stuck in the same cycles?
I’ve found that that difference often comes down to self-awareness. It’s about recognising your personality, your values, your beliefs, and your emotions, and understanding how they influence your choices.
As both a coach and a health and fitness trainer, which is something I do on the side of my main job as a content designer, I’ve seen firsthand how self-awareness can transform lives. To me, self-awareness is the foundation of meaningful growth, and with coaching, that growth can occur much faster.
Understanding Self-Awareness
Self-awareness has two sides:
Internal self-awareness involves knowing your strengths, values, triggers, and emotions, and,
External self-awareness involves understanding how others perceive you.
Both matter. Internal awareness helps you make choices aligned with your values, while external awareness helps you build better relationships and avoid blind spots.
Through my coaching experience, I’ve seen a common pattern where we assume that “we already know ourselves.” However, the truth is that many of our patterns and reactions run on autopilot. And so it’s only when we step back, reflect, and invite feedback that we uncover deeper truths.
Why Self-Awareness Fuels Growth
The best way to think of self-awareness is as a mirror. It reflects both your strengths and your blind spots. That reflection might reveal:
Limiting beliefs - that hold you back
Habits - that sabotage your goals
Gaps - in your emotional intelligence
Now with that knowledge, ask yourself, “Can you make better choices, adapt more easily, and build authentic confidence?”
In my coaching work, I’ve seen how self-awareness improves decision-making, strengthens relationships, and boosts leadership skills. Self-awareness isn’t just personal growth, it’s professional growth, too.
How Coaching Builds Self-Awareness
Coaching offers a safe and objective space for self-exploration. Coaches use powerful, clean questioning to uncover patterns, help you reframe challenges, and provide feedback that highlights the gap between how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you.
When I first had a coach, I’ll be honest, I didn’t see the value. But I committed to the conversations, and something shifted. My career took off, my personal growth accelerated, and I realised coaching could be a tool not just for me, but for those I lead and support. Now, I weave coaching techniques into both my professional and personal life.
From Awareness to Action
But self-awareness without action is like spotting a leak but never fixing it. The problem doesn’t go away.
I learned this in my early health and fitness journey. I was putting in the effort, but the results weren’t coming. So I worked with a personal trainer. Through that process, I became more aware of my nutrition, my training gaps, and my mindset. We broke my goals into phases, which changed how I approached my workouts. Progress eventually followed, not overnight, but steadily.
The same principle applies in life and work:
Build new habits and routines
Set clearer boundaries and respect them
Communicate more effectively
Small, consistent actions turn awareness into transformation.
Self-Awareness at Work
Many professionals believe they’re self-aware, but research indicates that only a small percentage truly are. That gap is a missed opportunity, in my opinion.
In leadership, self-awareness means recognising your emotional triggers and cognitive biases, so you can make balanced, long-term decisions.
In teamwork, it means understanding how your actions impact others and adjusting them to foster trust and collaboration.
In career development, it means choosing roles and projects that align with your strengths and values.
How to Start Growing Your Self-Awareness
If you want to unlock your potential, here are a few practical steps:
Journal regularly: reflect on your day, your reactions, and what triggered them
Seek feedback: from trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors
Practise mindfulness: notice your thoughts and feelings without judgement
Work with a coach: uncover blind spots and keep you accountable
Reflect back on what you’ve observed. Are there any patterns? What’s shocked you the most? And what steps can you take to develop yourself?
To me, self-awareness is more than self-reflection. It’s the foundation for change. It’s what allows you to see clearly, act with purpose, and reach your full potential.
Whether you’re navigating a career change, improving your health, or stepping into a leadership role, building self-awareness will be your greatest asset. Coaching can accelerate that process, but the first step is yours to take.
Start small. Reflect. Ask questions. Be open to what you discover. Because your potential is already within you, self-awareness is just the key that unlocks it.
