If you were to go look up the definition of ‘self-conscious’ right now, the first explanation you’d come across is not the type of self-consciousness I am referring to; I am referring to the second definition, “having knowledge of one’s own existence especially the knowledge of oneself as a conscious being; deliberate and with full awareness, especially affectedly so”. I believe there are three versions of everyone: how you view yourself, how others view you, and the version of yourself you strive to be. I believe that when all three align, you’ve done something right. Now that is not to say other’s opinions are the end all be all—nor should they be—but there’s something to be said about someone who is well liked.

This is why I aim to be more self-conscious, because being self-aware is probably the most vital step to take in the pursuit of self-improvement, or more importantly, in the hopes of having an accurate grasp on reality. What I mean by that is, if you think you’re an awesome person, that’s great! But if everyone else who comes across you begs to differ, there is clearly a disconnect. Being self-conscious is deliberately choosing to be aware of yourself. It is choosing to see more interpretations than your own. It is choosing to not only acknowledge multiple perceptions but to be sensitive to multiple perceptions. The joke you told might have been funny, but it also might have been prejudice, racist, or just plain offensive. By taking a step towards self-consciousness, you would be purposefully choosing to be one step closer to opening your eyes to a world beyond yourself. It is a beautiful thing to understand and to sympathize with multiple perspectives.

It is no easy task to become more self-conscious. You must be strong enough to take constructive criticism and motivated enough to implement it. You must be open minded because you will discover truths you have never known. You must have a sense of humor because your journey won’t always be easy. By taking on the challenge of becoming more self-conscious, you are inadvertently working towards aligning the three versions of yourself. Remember that success isn’t stationary, some days you'll feel like you have it, while others you won't know where you lost it. But if you want my advice, it would be: don’t be too hard on yourself and never underestimate the power of kindness.