Developing Self-Awareness in Class VI Students
Life Skills & Value Education – CLASS-VI – UNIT-1 Self-Awareness
What is Self-awareness?
•Self-awareness involves being aware of different aspects of the self including traits, behaviours, and feelings.
• When we have self respect i.e. respect for ourselves, we behave well and treat ourselves well. We also expect others to behave well with us and treat us well. Self-awareness can be established by being assertive.
What do you mean by being assertive?
Being assertive means telling people clearly and firmly what you feel. Being confident, staying positive, knowing our feelings and speaking up can help us be safe and keep others around us safe too.
ASSERTIVENESS VS. AGGRESSION
Assertiveness is the quality of being self-assured and confident without being aggressive. There is a difference between being assertive and being aggressive. Aggression includes violence, a raised voice and threatening body-language. On the other hand, when one stands up for one’s rights in a calm and positive way, without humiliating or hurting the other person, it is known as assertiveness. Assertiveness is an effective skill that each one of us can develop, if we do not have it already.
An important aspect of being assertive is saying ‘NO’ when required. When a person is too timid and unable to stand up for himself, people take advantage of them. For example, if a student is bright and studious, but very timid in manner, a bully can force this person to finish his/her homework, or carry his/her school bag to class. Therefore, the ability to say ‘NO’ assertively is necessary and prevents soft – hearted person from being taken advantage of.
HOW ASSERTIVE PEOPLE ACT
• Find it easy to express
• Set clear boundaries
• Have better control over their emotions
• Have high self esteem
• Are more adaptive
HOW NON-ASSERTIVE PEOPLE ACT
• Fear being judged
• Find it difficult to say no
• Find it difficult to open up
• Easily targeted by bullies
EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND THE POWER OF POSITIVITY
In the same way that we take care of our body by bathing, grooming and wearing smart clothes, we also need to take care of our mind and emotions. A person who is emotionally healthy is likely to be happier, more hopeful, balanced and positive in life.
Emotional health refers to one’s ability to accept and manage feelings through challenges and change.
An emotionally healthy person is one who accepts all emotions as natural, and understands that emotions can be controlled. This person is better at getting the most out of being positive.
WHAT DO POSITIVE THOUGHTS SOUND LIKE?
* Excited: I am going to the zoo today! I am going to have so much fun.
* Confident: I have studied a lot for this test. I am going to score well.
* Content: I had so much fun at the party today. I love my friends.
* Enthusiastic: I want to be a better player, so I am going to practice harder.
* Grateful: My parents take such good care of me. I want to make them
happy.
* Loving: It’s my sister’s birthday tomorrow. I want to surprise her with a party.
WHAT DO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS SOUND LIKE?
* Jealous: All the teachers like Aryan. They don’t appreciate my work as
much.
* Upset: I am never able to live up to the expectations of my parents.
* Rejected: I wish my friends included me in their plans. They seem to
have more fun without me.
* Frustrated: No matter how much I practice, someone else gets
selected to play for the school.
* Dismayed: I always give gifts to my friends but they never remember
my birthday.
Benefits to practicing self-awareness
•It can make us more proactive, boost our acceptance, and encourage positive self-development.
•Self-awareness allows us to see things from the perspective of others, practice self-control, work creatively and productively, and experience pride in ourselves and our work as well as general self-esteem.
•It leads to better decision making. •It can make us better at our jobs, better communicators in the workplace, and enhance our self-confidence and job-related wellbeing.
5 Ways to Increase Your Self-Awareness
1) CREATE SPACE AND TIME
- Connect with yourself daily
- Avoid digital distraction
- Carve out solitude
2) PRACTISE MINDFULNESS
a. Pay attention to your inner state as it arises
b. Try mindful walking, eating, listening
3) JOURNAL YOUR AWARENESS
- Process your thoughts through writing
- Record your inner states
4) PRACTISE LISTENING
- Pay attention to speaker
- Observe emotions and body language
- Don’t judge or evaluate
5) GAIN A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
a. Ask for feedback
Download PDF : ashamodernschool.in Class-6-Life-Skills-2025-26
