Techniques for self-knowledge and personal growth

Getting to know yourself is an enriching and ongoing process that helps you understand your emotions, values, goals, and even the reasons behind your decisions and actions. Introspection can lead to greater self-understanding, which in turn gives you tools to build a more authentic and fulfilling life. Below are some methods to get to know yourself better, explore your inner layers, and connect with your true self.

Write a Reflection Journal.

Journaling is an invaluable practice for introspection. It allows us to record thoughts, emotions, and experiences, giving us a safe space to process them. By reading through past entries, we can notice patterns of behavior, recurring emotions, and how we have evolved over time.

Example of how to use the diary.
Each day, write about how you feel, what challenges you faced, and how you dealt with them. In particular, note times when you feel happy or dissatisfied; analyze what led you to feel that way and reflect on what you could change to achieve greater satisfaction. Some people find it helpful to follow guiding questions such as, "What made me happy today?", "What did I learn from this experience?", or "How could I have acted differently?"

Practice Meditation and Mindfulness.

Meditation and mindfulness are powerful tools for deepening self-knowledge. These practices allow us to observe our thoughts and emotions without judging them, giving us clarity about how we react to certain situations and what triggers certain feelings.

How to get started with meditation.
Start with short sessions of 5 to 10 minutes a day. Sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. At first, you may be distracted by thoughts, which is normal. Instead of pushing them away, observe them and let them pass. With practice, this introspection will improve your self-understanding and help you discover your true needs and desires.

Explore Our Personal Values.

Identifying our core values is essential to knowing ourselves better and living in accordance with our beliefs. Values are the set of principles that guide our decisions, and when our actions align with them, we are more likely to feel satisfaction and inner peace.

Exercise to discover values.
Make a list of values that you find important (such as honesty, respect, loyalty, freedom, or creativity) and prioritize them. Reflect on situations in which you have felt conflicted, and analyze whether it was because you were acting against your values. This exercise can be revealing and help you adjust your life to be in line with your beliefs.

Practicing Self-Observation in Everyday Situations.

Self-observation involves observing our reactions and behaviors on a daily basis. Being aware of our emotions in everyday situations, such as work, personal relationships, or stressful situations, gives us insight into how they affect us and how we respond.

Example of self-observation.
Notice how you feel in a meeting, when talking to someone, or in moments of solitude. Ask yourself why you responded in a certain way and what emotions arose. This exercise gives us tools to understand what situations make us uncomfortable and what motivates us, helping us develop behaviors that align with our needs.

Receiving Feedback from Others.

Sometimes, people close to us can see aspects of our personality that we ourselves don't see. Asking for constructive feedback from friends, family or colleagues can give us outside perspectives that we may not have been aware of.

How to ask for feedback.
For this exercise to be effective, ask someone you trust to be honest with you and focus on areas you could improve, as well as your strengths. Listening without judging or defending yourself will allow you to analyze their words more objectively and see if you find anything that resonates with you.

Take Personality and Self-Knowledge Tests.

There are various psychological tests that can offer useful information about who we are and how we think, such as the Myers-Briggs (MBTI) test or the Enneagram. These tests should not be taken as absolute, but they can give us an idea of behaviour patterns and how we tend to approach life.

Personality test example.
The Myers-Briggs test classifies people into one of 16 personality types, with aspects such as introversion/extroversion and judgment/perception. The Enneagram, on the other hand, divides people into nine types, highlighting both their strengths and their deeper motivations. If you decide to take these tests, take the results as a tool for reflection and not as a rigid label.

Practice Gratitude and Self-Care.

Practicing gratitude is a powerful way to connect with ourselves and appreciate what we have. Taking time to be thankful for the things around us, big and small, helps us focus on the positive and meaningful experiences. At the same time, self-care allows us to meet our emotional and physical needs.

How to incorporate gratitude.
Take a few minutes each day to write down three things you are grateful for. Also, practice self-care activities, such as exercising, getting enough rest, or pursuing hobbies. These practices not only help us get to know ourselves, but they also strengthen our well-being and self-esteem.

Define Personal Goals and Objectives.

Setting goals is a way to explore our desires, aspirations and values. Personal goals push us to improve and make efforts towards our priorities, allowing us to discover facets that may go unnoticed in everyday life.

How to define effective goals.
Set clear, achievable goals that align with your current values and needs. As you work toward these goals, consider how you feel at each stage, whether you are satisfied with your progress, and whether you need to make adjustments. This constant self-assessment is a way to get to know yourself better and adapt your path as your needs change.

Analyze Dreams and the Subconscious.

Dreams can reflect aspects of our subconscious and emotions that we may not express in daily life. Keeping a dream journal can help us observe patterns, recurring emotions and unconscious desires.

Dream analysis example.
Jot down your dreams as soon as you wake up, paying attention to the people, places, and feelings that appeared. After a few days, review the entries and look for patterns. This exercise can help you uncover worries, fears, or desires that aren't always apparent in waking life, giving you deep insight into your inner world.

Reflecting in Solitude.

Spending time alone, away from distractions, allows us to reflect on who we are, without external influences. Sometimes moments of solitude can be uncomfortable, but learning to be alone is essential to getting to know ourselves and discovering what makes us happy without depending on others.

How to practice solitude.
Make time for yourself to be alone on an intentional basis, such as taking a walk outside, reading a book, or simply sitting in reflection without distractions. Notice what thoughts arise and if you feel discomfort; this could reveal areas of your life that need work.

Practice Visualization.

Visualization is a technique that involves imagining your goals and how you feel when you achieve them. This practice allows you to explore what you truly want and helps you detect fears or blockages that may be limiting your growth.

Visualization example.
Imagine what your ideal life would be like in five or ten years. Visualize in detail how you feel, what your environment is like, what you do every day. Visualization helps align your current desires with your future goals and can give you a clear perspective on the areas of your life you want to improve.

Self-knowledge is an ongoing and enriching process that is achieved by combining various tools and methods. Each person is unique, so not all techniques work the same way for everyone. Experimenting and exploring is part of the path to self-knowledge; you may find that certain methods work better for you than others, and that is part of the experience.

The important thing to remember is that this process is not a goal, but rather an ongoing journey. The more you know yourself, the more you can adapt and grow in the direction you desire. And while the path can sometimes be challenging, the rewards of better understanding yourself, accepting yourself, and living a life that reflects your true aspirations make every effort worthwhile.