The Thin Line Between Self-Awareness and Self-Sabotage

Self-awareness is a really good trait to have, but there’s a very thin line between self-awareness and self-criticism. It’s admirable to be humble, but this shouldn’t mean that you don’t give yourself your own worth.

I once wrote something about self-assessment and how you can focus on both your strengths and weaknesses. But let’s be honest,  I only focused on my weaknesses. The same way a toxic manager doesn’t praise you for good work but is quick to blame you for mistakes.

 I was being my own toxic boss.

I was treating my strengths as a given,  like I wasn’t doing anything impressive. Of course I should be good at this; nothing special about it. But I was always blaming myself for not knowing enough. I used to listen to people talk about their jobs and fixate on the things I didn’t know, just to beat myself up.

I made myself feel stupid for not knowing someone else’s job!

Then, suddenly, I had this breakthrough. I am a unique individual with my own unique set of skills and knowledge. I may not know everything, but no one else knows the exact set of knowledge I do. No one else has the same experience.

And not just me,  every single one of us is unique. No one else has the same knowledge you have. No one else has lived the exact same path as you.

So use it.

 If you’re experienced in one industry,  great. Climb the ladder. If you have one amazing skill,  use it to fly. If you have (like me) a broad “bit of everything” kind of experience,  take full advantage of it.

This is for me, especially,  and for anyone else with a wide, messy mix of knowledge who sometimes feels like they don’t fully belong anywhere. Try to feel like you belong everywhere. You’re the one with the full picture. You’re the one with perspective. And that’s absolutely amazing.

In a previous article, I talked about putting a scale on your industry or skill, and measuring what you can and can’t do. It’s helpful, and I still stand by it,  especially if you’re specialised in one thing.

But for me, it made me realise how much I still didn’t know. It made me feel like I was just at the start of my journey. And it wasn’t all bad,  I learned a lot and I’m grateful for that. But I was in no way at the beginning.

I’m still self-aware. But now I know I’ve already walked a long road. There’s still more to go,  but I’m on it.

I’m moving.