Increase your self-awareness with one simple fix | Tasha Eurich | TEDxMileHigh

About this Video

• Video Title: Increase your self-awareness with one simple fix | Tasha Eurich | TEDxMileHigh
• Channel: TEDx Talks
• Speakers: Tasha Eurich
• Duration: 00:17:18

Introduction

This TEDx Talk by Tasha Eurich explores the common misconceptions surrounding self-awareness. Eurich challenges the widely held belief that introspection—analyzing one's thoughts and feelings—is the key to self-awareness, presenting research that suggests the opposite. The talk proposes a simple yet powerful alternative for achieving genuine self-awareness.

Key Takeaways

• The Illusion of Introspection: Most people believe introspection leads to self-awareness, but research shows it often leads to stress, depression, and inaccurate self-perception. Introspection frequently results in inventing answers that feel true but are often wrong. The "recency effect" heavily biases our self-assessment.
• The Power of "What" Questions: Instead of asking "Why?" (which often leads to inaccurate and unhelpful self-analysis), the speaker advocates for asking "What?" This approach focuses on actionable steps, behaviors, and situations, leading to more effective self-understanding and positive change.
• The "Self-Awareness Unicorns": Eurich's research identified individuals who demonstrated high self-awareness. These individuals overwhelmingly used "what" questions in their self-reflection, highlighting the effectiveness of this approach.
• Self-Awareness is a Journey: The speaker emphasizes that self-awareness is an ongoing process requiring a commitment to learning and growth. It involves learning from mistakes, tragedies, and successes.
• Practical Application: The core message is to shift from analyzing the reasons behind feelings and actions ("Why?") to exploring the details of situations and behaviors ("What?") for a more accurate and beneficial understanding of oneself.