Most individuals "believe they know" their own emotions, motivations, the reasons for their reactions, and other internal states, deducing them in part from observations of their own perceived behavior and/or the circumstances in which that behavior occurs. But being the most superficial observable instances, the internal cues are weak, ambiguous or uninterpretable.
While people have some perception of who they are, that perception may be less robust than they think. Constructing an accurate image of ourselves that aligns with reality can sometimes seem out of reach. Studies show that people's ability to know themselves is flawed and far from what our intuition tells us.
We are constantly blocking out unwanted or uncomfortable thoughts and feelings and are fraught with problems of distorted self-perception and cognitive bias. There are many blind spots in our self-knowledge that have negative consequences for ourselves and others. Insufficient self-awareness is associated with emotional problems and can lead to poor decision-making.
Furthermore, the quantity and quality of information to be considered when trying to observe ourselves can be misleading. Nonverbal behavior can go unnoticed, we can overestimate - or underestimate - the transparency of our internal states.
So, while self-observation and introspection have their limits and don't provide the direct line to self-knowledge we hope for, studies suggest that alternative ways to increase self-awareness can take us beyond these limitations and possible deviations from introspection . One of these alternatives is to use behavioral self-assessment tools.
Enneagram and DISC - well tested and established self-assessment tools
Not just any self-assessment tool can help you expand your self-knowledge. There are many types of tools on the market and many options for each type of tool, but it is crucial to resort to robust tools, very well tested and established, under penalty of having your self-knowledge process hampered by companies that are not very committed with quality or research, and technically amateur or little qualified in the development of their assessment questionnaires and reports.
In order to obtain relevant and accurate information (which we may not be able to obtain in other ways), it is essential that you use a high quality self-assessment questionnaire, whose questions are able to reach the deep areas of your unconscious mind and bring to light information about you based on motivations and fears that drive your behavior. This is the relevant information that opens a portal to a new phase of self-awareness and personal growth.
I have been working with the Enneagram and DISC tools for many years, relying on highly qualified providers. These tools not only accelerate the process of self-knowledge, but also reveal behavioral aspects that we would not identify through simple self-observation. Also, they can be used as a self-development guide. They provide information such as:
Idealized self-image - the story you tell yourself about who you are (or need to be to survive) and why your way is the right way.
Your worldview - the story you tell yourself about how the world works and what you can and cannot expect from it.
Filters and beliefs that determine what you will and will not notice or focus on as you walk through the world.
Distorted or fixed ideas that drive your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Vulnerabilities, unconscious fears, triggers, defense mechanisms and blind spots.
Unhealthy habits and behaviors that arise from a distorted worldview.
A set of personal virtues and values.
Strengths that arise from an objective and adaptive perspective.
Positive habits and behaviors that support the expression of your essence or real self.
The transcendent idea that indicates a path to the expansion of self-awareness.
Both Enneagram and DISC offer a deep understanding of automatic behaviors and often unconscious patterns that drive our actions and reactions. A deeper self-awareness leads to a fundamental shift in the way we think, feel and act in the world, while also developing our compassion and understanding of the needs and perspectives of others. Individuals, leaders, and teams with higher levels of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the ability to understand and communicate with others tend to be high performers in most environments.
By using a self-assessment tool, you become more aware of how you may be limiting yourself. You also become more conscious of your triggers and defenses, strengths and weaknesses. You learn to move away from knee-jerk reactions, addressing your blind spots so you can move forward on your onboarding journey. As a result, you will move to a new level of consciousness, build new neural pathways, and establish a more varied and healthy range of behavioral responses as you move toward expanding self-awareness. This has happened to me and to countless people I've helped!
I invite you to explore your inner world on a journey of self-discovery with me. Learn more about accelerated coaching with Enneagram and DISC - two of the best self-evaluation tools for personal growth. Send us a message at contact@attainx.net to find out which solution best suits your needs.
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