SELF
Adult Journey › Know Your Brain › Self
Who are you, really?
Your Self is shaped by all the unconscious (such as emotion) and conscious (such as rational) processes in your brain, plus your experiences, relationships, memories, and the stories you’ve learned to tell about who you are. But those stories aren’t always the whole picture.
Some of the forces shaping you happen automatically, before you even notice them. Becoming more self-aware about your brain and personality means learning to spot those patterns and asking:
Is this really me, or is this just something I’ve learned to think about myself?
You weren’t handed a finished version of yourself.
You’re still becoming who you are.
And that means that the more you know about how your brain works, the more you will have a say in what comes next.
Your Self Is Still Developing
It’s easy to think, This is just who I am. But your brain is always learning and changing. Your experiences, relationships, habits, thoughts, and choices all help shape your sense of Self.
Some of this happens consciously.
Much of it happens automatically through emotions, expectations, biases, and patterns you’ve learned over time.
You Are Not Every Thought You Have
Your brain constantly produces thoughts, feelings, and reactions, but that doesn’t make all of them true.
When you catch yourself thinking, I’m bad at this or Everyone is judging me, pause and ask:
Is this a fact, or a story my brain has learned?
That pause creates self-awareness.
You Can Help Shape What Comes Next
Knowing yourself isn’t about finding one final answer to Who am I?
It’s about noticing what has shaped you, questioning what no longer fits, and making choices that reflect who you want to become.
The more you understand your brain, the more say you can have in what comes next.
How is Self related to Critical Thinking?
Self and critical thinking are deeply intertwined, like two sides of the same coin! Critical thinking is essentially a tool that helps you understand and shape your "self."
Here's how they connect:
• Self-Awareness is the Foundation: Critical thinking begins with understanding yourself – your biases, your emotions, your usual thought patterns. This self-awareness is crucial because it allows you to recognize when your "self" might be leading you to jump to conclusions or react automatically.
• Challenging Your "Self" Beliefs: Critical thinking encourages you to question your own assumptions and beliefs, which are often deeply ingrained parts of your "self." By asking "Why do I believe this?" or "What if I'm wrong?", you're actively engaging in self-reflection and allowing for growth beyond your current sense of self.
• Balancing Emotion and Reason: Your "self" is a blend of emotions and rational thought. Critical thinking helps you harmonize these two aspects. Instead of letting strong emotions dictate your actions, you can use critical thinking to pause, analyze the situation, and make a more balanced decision that aligns with your deeper values.
• Shaping Your "Self" Through Action: By applying critical thinking to your decisions and actions, you actively shape who you are becoming. Each thoughtful choice reinforces certain neural pathways and behaviors, gradually refining your "self" into a more aware, intentional, and resilient individual.
In essence, critical thinking empowers you to move from being a reactive "self" to a proactive and self-aware "self" that can navigate the complexities of life with greater clarity and purpose.