self-understanding
Knowing your nature
Self-understanding is insight into one's own character, motivations, and behavior.
It implies honest recognition of strengths and weaknesses, why you act as you do, and what you actually want rather than what you think you should want.
Therapy helped her develop real self-understanding.
The term suggests depth beyond mere self-awareness—not just noticing your patterns but grasping their origins and meaning.
Insight into one's psyche
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- self-reflectionExamining one's own mind
- self-knowledgeUnderstanding of oneself
self-perception · self-examination · self-analysis · emotional intelligence · self-concept · inner awareness · self-recognition · metacognition
Eternal inner self
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- meditationFocused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
self-realization · awakening · inner wisdom · contemplation · soul-searching · navel-gazing · vipassana · true self
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- journalingRegular personal writing practice
- personal growthIntentional self-improvement over time
- shadow workExploring unconscious aspects
inner child · trauma processing · psychoanalysis · self-help · healing · breakthrough · defense mechanisms · attachment style
Relating to elenctic inquiry
- know thyselfImperative for introspection
- existentialRelating to existence itself
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- KierkegaardDanish existentialist theologian
consciousness · phenomenology · being · identity · essence · subjectivity · examined life · self-inquiry
Building a sense of self
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
- EriksonPatronymic from Norse lands
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- life stagesPeriods from birth onward
coming-of-age · self-discovery · emerging adulthood · autobiography · life review · formative experiences · personal history · developmental milestones
self-awareness
Insight into one's psyche
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- self-reflectionExamining one's own mind
self-knowledge · self-perception · self-examination · self-analysis · emotional intelligence · self-concept · inner awareness · self-recognition · metacognition · personal insight
atman
Eternal inner self
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- meditationFocused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
satori · self-realization · awakening · inner wisdom · contemplation · soul-searching · navel-gazing · vipassana · true self · higher self
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- journalingRegular personal writing practice
- personal growthIntentional self-improvement over time
shadow work · inner child · trauma processing · psychoanalysis · self-help · healing · breakthrough · defense mechanisms · attachment style · triggers
Socratic
Relating to elenctic inquiry
- know thyselfImperative for introspection
- existentialRelating to existence itself
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
Kierkegaard · consciousness · phenomenology · being · identity · essence · subjectivity · examined life · self-inquiry · ontological
identity formation
Building a sense of self
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
- EriksonPatronymic from Norse lands
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
life stages · coming-of-age · self-discovery · emerging adulthood · autobiography · life review · formative experiences · personal history · developmental milestones · aging
- introspectionself-examination, self-reflection, self-awareness, self-analysis, introspection
- self-reflectionjournaling, self-reflection, self-awareness, introspection, self-examination
- humanistic psychologyAbraham Maslow, self-actualization, hierarchy of needs, congruence, genuineness
self-understandingself-deception
Convincing yourself of falsehoods
self-delusion · obliviousness · unawareness · cluelessness · unconsciousness
self-understandingdenial
Refusal to accept reality
deflection · self-denial · avoidance · repression · suppression