How to Determine if Your Self-Perception is Skewed

Self-Reflection and Awareness
1. Journaling: Regularly write about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to gain insights into your self-perception.
2. Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness to stay present and observe your thoughts without judgment.

Feedback from Others
1. Seek Honest Feedback: Ask trusted friends, family, or colleagues for their perspectives on your behavior and self-view.
2. Professional Guidance: Consider seeing a therapist or counselor who can provide an objective view and help identify any distortions in your self-perception.

Self-Assessment Tools
1. Personality Tests: Use validated personality assessments (e.g., Myers-Briggs, Big Five) to compare your self-view with standardized traits.
2. Behavioral Inventories: Complete self-assessment questionnaires to identify patterns in your thoughts and behaviors.

Compare Perceptions
1. Reality Check: Compare your self-view with objective achievements and feedback. For example, if you perceive yourself as underperforming, review actual performance data and feedback.
2. Consistency: Check if there is consistency between how you see yourself and how others perceive you across different contexts (work, home, social settings).

Observe Reactions and Outcomes
1. Behavioral Consequences: Reflect on the outcomes of your actions. Consistent negative outcomes might indicate a skewed self-perception.
2. Emotional Reactions: Pay attention to your emotional responses. Extreme or frequent negative emotions could be a sign of a distorted self-view.

By actively engaging in these practices, you can gain a clearer and more balanced understanding of your self-perception. Why is it important to assess your self-perception?

The author is a practicing physician and a life skill coach. Consult Dr. Sowmya for Comprehensive Health and Life Coaching Services