In our lexicon self-consciousness has a weakness connotation.
We have been conditioned to think of 'self-conscious' people as timid people, people who cower under negative self-images.
Let's give this another think.
Better still, let's replace it all with constructive thought.
Self-consciousness is a good thing:
- It means the person is giving some thought to self...it’s an acknowledgement that thinking about self is an important thing to do.
- It means the person is aware of self...it’s a foundation upon which self-control can grow.
- It means the person is growing knowledge of self…it’s the vital step toward self-improvement.
Like all other skills self-awareness, self-control, self-knowledge and self-improvement require guidance and relentless practise. And practise leads to mastery of skills when its guidance-system is housed in an educated, open and self-conscious mind. So, self-consciousness leads to strength in thought and action. Conversely, strength cannot exist when self-consciousness is absent.
Never should we assume self-conscious thought and awareness is only directed toward the negatives. For each of us, self is the essential ingredient. We ought to be conscious of that. And, we ought to wrap that consciousness in constructive mindsets, allowing as little room as possible for negativity.
We face an awesome choice – we can choose to accept self-conscious thought as the recipe for finding our most-positive things…like our talent, our courage, our confidence, our conviction, & our curiosity.