A free self-awareness test to help you discover yourself and guide your self-growth.

I received an impactful email from one of my readers a few weeks ago. In a bout of vulnerability, the author wrote: “You weren’t kidding when you wrote in your blog, ‘Life is going to drastically change when you become more self-aware.’  It really did.” 

She went on to say how being more self-aware improved her relationships, landed her a new manager job, and allowed her to find more self-confidence in her life.

Responses like this inspire me, but they don’t surprise me. My life completely changed when I become more self-aware. I’m talking “How the heck did I not know this about myself before?!” change. And it’s only gotten better since that moment I realized that I wasn’t as self-aware as I thought I was.

Some of you might be wondering: what is self-awareness, and why is it important? Others might already understand the self-awareness benefits, and that’s why you’re here. You want to find a self-awareness test to help you know yourself better. Or maybe you want a set of questions to help you see what you’re missing to reclaim more purpose in your life. (That, and who doesn’t love a good internet quiz??)

If you want to skip down to the free self-awareness test, you can dive right in. Not only will it help with your self-aware assessment, but it’s entirely free and doesn’t require anything for you to get your results.

To fully benefit from this self-awareness test, however, make sure you understand our self-awareness definition and why self-awareness is important. It might just transform your life.

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What is self-awareness (and how can it transform your life)?

Self-awareness is one’s ability to identify and understand their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. As a result, you can monitor yourself better and create a more purposeful life. You can also discover what it is that you can and can’t control to make yourself happy.

Don’t be fooled by these three simple categories. The definition of self-awareness extends far beyond these three aspects of human nature. If you keep reading, you’ll notice that the self-awareness test encompasses a wide range of elements, including values, strengths, and ambitions. It also encompasses private and public awareness (and therapy can help). 

Plus, being self-aware is just damn difficult.

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Most of Us Lack Self-Awareness and Feel These Negative Effects

Our human nature makes it incredibly challenging to be self-aware. We’re dealing with outdated brain functions and survival instincts that are rooted in ancient times. Our emotions manipulate our thoughts and behaviors. Our environment influences us more than we realize.

Bottom line: a lot is working against our self-awareness that we can’t control. As a result, we often become caught up in defensive emotions and biases that prevent us from being self-aware. 

The trickiest part is that these defenses make us think we’re self-aware when in reality, only about 10-15% of people are truly self-aware. (Want to skip the self-awareness quiz and learn the signs instead? Read 6 Signs that You Lack Self-Awareness in Everyday Life.)

Don’t give up, yet. Emotional intelligence in self-awareness is entirely possible. It just takes some practice, the understanding of what you’re up against, and the right tools. 

Fortunately, you can get all those things here.

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Why is self-awareness important?

Sandra finally admitted to herself that she needed a change. She had felt lethargic for months; unmotivated at work, unhappy in her dating life, and rather empty during her free time. Dread filled her mornings as she thought of the day ahead. At night, she always felt like she had been dragged through the day (and her own life).

But the worst part was the pervasive question that popped up every night: Why am I not happy in life? Why is my life like this?

In an optimistic effort for change, Sandra stumbled upon a self-awareness workbook. It didn’t take long for her to cross-reference the signs and admit that she lacked self-awareness. Intrigued, she began to reflect on some of the self-awareness questions–questions that felt a lot smaller and more manageable than the ones she was asking herself. 

And, little by little, she began to understand more of her world. She discovered what was causing her so much anxiety (and subsequent avoidance) at work. A quick inventory of her relationships exposed what people she wanted to prioritize more. And a wider emotional vocabulary allowed her to name how she felt each night, rather than drowning in a sea of confusing, negative feelings.

There are many benefits of self-awareness that you will experience both in your everyday life and overall.

Possessing self-awareness will:

  1. Give you a better understanding of what you want and/or need
  2. Increase your chances of getting what you want and/or need
  3. Improve your decision making
  4. Help you manage your emotions
  5. Lead to healthier reactions to external factors
  6. Boost your productivity and success
  7. Enhance your ability to make positive change
  8. Bolster your self-esteem
  9. Strengthen your relationships

SELF-AWARENESS BENEFITS

How often have you heard people tell you to “be true to yourself” or “be authentic”? The problem with these phrases is that they assume we know who we are. (They also neglect to acknowledge a hidden truth, which I wrote about in one of my all-time favorite posts). We can’t be true to ourselves unless we know who our true self is.

And we can’t know who our true self is until we become more self-aware.

These benefits can exist in all areas of life. You will reap these benefits if you improve:

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What can a self-awareness test show you?

This self-awareness quiz can help you in two powerful ways. First, it can help you understand the meaning of self-awareness. The questions will expose you to examples of self-awareness and further solidify your self-aware definition.

Second, it can show you how self-aware you actually are. Don’t be fearful of your results. Instead, understand that self-awareness is the essential component for self-growth. If you want a fulfilled, purposeful life, you need to understand what areas of your life might lack self-awareness.

Being self-aware allows you to understand what you can control and what you can’t. This simple realization has the potential to completely transform your life.

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The secret element about self-awareness that nobody talks about: Vulnerability

Self-awareness is not a new concept. Also, this probably isn’t the first time you’ve undertaken self-awareness activities. Why is it so difficult to improve our self-awareness?

The secret element nobody talks about is vulnerability. You can’t be self-aware if you aren’t willing to be vulnerable.

There are a lot of myths about vulnerability that limit our thinking. For the sake of this free self-awareness test, you need to understand that being vulnerable is not weak, exclusive, or dark. Instead, being vulnerable will help you uncover the truths that you’re looking for.

So, as you go through the self-aware test, try to be honest with your answers. The ultimate answer you’re looking for is to the question: How self-aware am I? And to achieve this truth, you need to summon the courage to be a bit vulnerable.

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Self-Awareness Test

The questions or self-awareness, along with a brief description of their meaning and importance, are listed below. If you prefer to do an interactive quiz, you can complete it below. A self-awareness test PDF link is also available at the bottom of the page for you to download and print.

Please note that this free self-awareness test is not a scientific assessment. It is, however, rooted in ideas from the life-changing book Insight by Tasha Eurich.

If you have any interest after taking this quiz in growing your self-awareness, subscribe to receive my free Ebook guide: The Art of Being Self-Aware. Packed full of research, reflection questions, and self-awareness activities, it has everything you need to become more self-aware.

Questions for your Self-Awareness Test

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1. Can you name the behaviors that you are doing at all times?

a) Yes, I’m always intentional with my behaviors and can name what I’m taking part in at all times.

b) Sometimes. I’m usually aware of what I’m doing, although at times, I get caught up in something or don’t realize what I’m doing.

c) No, I rarely am aware of what my body or mind is doing.

While it might seem obvious, it can be challenging to recognize our own behaviors. Every day, we have to make over 2,000 decisions. Because this number is so high, our brain usually takes over and acts without us being conscious of it. Our emotional brain has more power than our thinking brain does. All of these unconscious decisions decrease our self-awareness. We also default to our typical routines and patterns without consciously identifying the shift.

2. Can you name the emotions that you are feeling at all times?

a) Yes, I can always identify and name the emotion I’m feeling at any given moment.

b) Sometimes. I’m usually aware of what emotion I’m feeling. However, it takes me a few moments to recognize it, and strong emotions sometimes catch me off-guard.

c) No, I rarely think about what emotion I’m feeling. I just feel something and act accordingly.

Emotional intelligence is perhaps the foundation of all self-awareness, but it’s not easy. Humans are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Our amygdala sparks emotions deep within us. These driving emotions get in the way of our rational thinking. The more self-aware you are of your emotions, the better you can control them.

3. Can you identify what causes a shift to negative emotions?

a) Yes, I can always identify what causes me to shift to negative emotions, whether it be an event, person, or recurring trigger.

b) Sometimes. I can usually identify what caused a shift in emotions, although it takes a little while for me to catch on.

c) No, I rarely know what specifically causes me to shift to negative emotions. All of a sudden, I’m no longer happy and I don’t know why.

I know it’s difficult to believe, but we don’t just “switch” to negative emotions for no apparent reason. There’s almost always something that causes this shift. The problem is that we don’t always know what this “something” is (generally because it’s hard enough just to name our negative emotion in the first place). After taking this free self-awareness test, try to consciously recognize when you shift into a bad mood and what might have caused it.

4. Can you name the emotional patterns you experience the most?

a) Yes, I can list my standard emotional patterns right now, including what they are, what causes them, and what effect they have on my life.

b) Somewhat. I generally know what I have a tendency to do, but it’s not always consistent or recognizable.

c) No, I have no idea what emotional patterns I repeat. I have emotions, but I can’t name any trends with when or why they happen.

If emotions are difficult to identify, emotional patterns can be even trickier. We all fall into emotional patterns, both negative and positive, that repeat themselves in our lives. Once you’re self-aware of these patterns, you can begin to improve your negative patterns and construct your positive ones.

5. Can you name your deepest fear triggers?

a) Yes, I’m self-aware of my deepest fears and what triggers these fears in my everyday life. I understand how pervasive these fears are in my thoughts and actions.

b) Somewhat. I can tell you what I’m most scared of, but I don’t fully know how it affects my life and daily actions.

c) No, I have no idea what a fear trigger even is or if I have one.

One of the strongest human motivators is the emotion of fear. Starting in our evolutionary history, fear helped us survive from potential threats. In today’s age, this fear still drives us, even when we’re not in imminent danger. Additionally, we’ve all developed our own deep-rooted fears. By increasing your self-awareness of what causes your fear, you can better manage your emotional reactions when it gets triggered.

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6. Can you name your deepest shame triggers?

a) Yes, I know the things that give me the most shame and what triggers this shame in my everyday life. I understand how pervasive this shame is in my thoughts and actions.

b) Somewhat. I can tell you what I’m most ashamed of, but I don’t fully know how it affects my life and daily actions.

c) No, I have no idea what a shame trigger even is or if I have one.

The other powerful motivating emotion is shame. We’re not self-aware of how shame, and the avoidance of shame, drive our thinking and behaviors. To limit the effect that shame has, we need to develop greater self-awareness of what triggers our shame the most.

7. Can you name the principles and values you believe in the most?

a) Yes, I can list my guiding principles and core values right now. I know how to distinguish between what I care about and the outside influence of others.

b) Somewhat. I can name a few principles and qualities that are most important to me, but I haven’t given this list a lot of thought.

c) No, I have no idea what values I personally believe in the most.

Self-awareness extends beyond identifying our emotions (although being self-aware of our emotions is the foundation). Understanding our principles and core values is a crucial component of self-awareness. To be happy, you must discover what core values you want to guide your life.

8. How much do you consider these principles when making decisions?

a) A lot. Not only do I know what these principles are, but I design my life and decision-making around them. They give clarity to my decisions.

b) Somewhat. I know what my principles are but don’t really know when they come into effect in my life.

c) Not at all. I live my life without ever giving a thought to any principles.

Naming your core values is the first step. The second step includes using these principles to guide your life and decision-making. To be self-aware, you must understand how to orient your decision-making around your core values. Only with this self-awareness can you give your life the direction you want.

9. Can you name the passions that you have and lose track of time while doing?

a) Yes, I know what I’m passionate about and why they give me joy.

b) Somewhat. I can list things that I enjoy doing, although I wouldn’t necessarily call them passions.

c) No, I don’t have any clear passions.

Many of us have a false idea of what passion and purpose should look like. Passions do not need to consume your life. Instead, passions are the things that you do that give you joy and energy. We all have passions; it merely takes some self-awareness to identify them and prioritize them in your life.

10. Can you state a list of goals and ambitions you have for yourself?

a) Yes, I can state a list of goals right now that include both short-term and long-term goals. I understand what I want out of life and can express these ambitions.

b) Somewhat. I have a few goals and ambitions, although they might not be the most defined.

c) No, I don’t really have any driving goals or ambitions in my life.

Humans are wired for self-growth. This growth is difficult to achieve, however, if you’re not self-aware of what you should be growing toward. Self-improvement needs to start with clear goals, and it takes a level of self-awareness to be able to state these goals and pursue them.

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11. Can you describe the environment you thrive in the most?

a) Yes, I can describe the ideal environment that I need to be happy and be successful, including the pace, energy, and structure that I thrive in.

b) Somewhat. I know certain things that I would want, but I can’t fully describe the exact environment that I thrive in.

c) No, I don’t know what environment works best for me. I just try to make it work wherever I am.

It’s easy to only look inward when we think of self-awareness. However, real self-awareness also requires us to look outward. The more self-aware you are about your environment and how it affects you, the more you can design your life in a way that brings purpose to your life.

12. Can you identify a list of personal strengths and how they manifest themselves in your life?

a) Yes, I can list all of my strengths right now, as well as where they fit into my life and how I use them to find success.

b) Somewhat. I mostly know what I’m good at, although I couldn’t tell you exactly how I incorporate these strengths into my life.

c) No, I don’t know what my strengths are. I just try to do my best.

There’s a reason there are a lot of strength-finding tests. Being self-aware of your strengths, and how they manifest themselves in your life, is crucial to being successful in life.

13. Can you identify a list of shortcomings and how they manifest themselves in your life?

a) Yes, I can list all of my shortcomings right now, as well as how they affect my life and what I need to do to overcome them.

b) Somewhat. I mostly know what my weaknesses are, although I don’t have an exact list. I try to avoid them, but I don’t really know how they hold me back.

c) No, I don’t know what my shortcomings are.

As fun as it might be to discover our strengths, it might be unpleasant to look for our shortcomings. However, understanding our limitations is 100% necessary to be successful. Possessing the self-awareness of these limitations can help us design our life in a way that is realistic and effective.

14. Can you describe your typical reaction to new information, whether it be positive or negative?

a) Yes, I can tell you right now how I usually react to new information. I understand my natural tendencies with both what emotions I feel and what impulses I have.

b) Somewhat. I can generally describe how I react to positive and negative news, but I’m not fully aware of my emotions and thoughts.

c) No, I just react in the moment and don’t know of any patterns.

We don’t often think about a “typical” reaction, because every new piece of information feels new. However, if you do think about it, you can become self-aware of your reactions and how they repeat themselves. By doing so, you can work to downplay the negative reactions and build on your positive ones.

15. Can you name what you need in your relationships to feel fulfilled?

a) Yes, I can name exactly what I need in my life in my relationships to create a sense of belonging and feel fulfilled. Additionally, I’m able to express these needs.

b) Somewhat. I know what I need from others, although I might not know specifically what I need from each person or in different situations.

c) No, I don’t know what I need from my relationships to feel fulfilled.

We often think of relationships in terms of two people, but this narrow perspective is doing more harm than good. You must be self-aware of what you need to build meaningful relationships in your life. Trust me – self-awareness will immediately improve your relationships.

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16. Can you list the relationships in your life and which ones meet your needs?

a) Yes, I can list the relationships I have in my life right now and evaluate what they give me. I know what I need to feel a strong connection.

b) Somewhat. I can list the people that are in my life, as well as my most important relationships, but my connections aren’t always perfect.

c) No, I don’t give much thought to the people in my life and which relationships meet my needs.

Not only do we need to be self-aware in our relationships, but we also need to be self-aware about the relationships in our life as a whole. Research has proven that we need different types of relationships to be happy and avoid loneliness. Greater self-awareness will help you identify which boxes might be left unchecked in your life.

17. Can you accurately describe the impact you have on others?

a) Yes, I know the impact I have on others, including what they think of me, how my words and actions affect them, and what my role is in their life.

b) Somewhat. I know what impact I have on others in general, although I couldn’t get into the specifics.

c) No, I don’t know how my words and actions affect others.

Self-awareness has two types: internal and external. Understanding the impact you have on others falls under external self-awareness, and it’s just as critical. While it’s impossible to get into the minds of others, there are strategies to help you understand the impact you have on others.

18. Can you identify where in your life biases and natural human tendencies play a role in your thinking?

a) Yes, I’m aware of where my thoughts and actions are influenced by biases and natural human tendencies. I can identify and name when these factors are getting in the way of my self-awareness and mindset.

b) Sometimes. I understand that I’m influenced by human nature, but I don’t always know what these influences are or how they affect me.

c) No, I have no idea about natural human tendencies or how they get in the way of self-awareness.

Humans are flawed and imperfect. It’s not enough to accept this fact, however, for your pursuit of self-awareness. The more you understand how our human nature affects us, the more you can develop your awareness in life. First, you must learn the different biases that affect us. Then, you can begin to identify where they affect your life.

19. Can you name your primary coping mechanisms, and what triggers them?

a) Yes, I can list my primary coping mechanisms right now and what situations trigger them. I understand how they developed in my past and can evaluate whether they still serve me now.

b) Sometimes. I know what coping mechanisms I generally use when trying to defend myself, but I can’t always recognize what triggers them.

c) No, I have no idea what coping mechanisms I default to or why.

We’re all deeply influenced by our childhood (especially when it comes to our love life). Sometime along the way, we developed coping mechanisms to deal with negative stressors. Some of us shut down and practice avoidance; others try to be perfectionists. A self-aware person can name their coping mechanisms and identify what triggers them. From there, they can better manage themselves.

20. Can you evaluate how much of an impact cultural narratives have on you, and can you identify where they influence your thinking?

a) Yes, I’m aware of the cultural narratives that exist and how they influence my thinking and perspective. I can distinguish between what I know to be true and what I feel like I should do, as told by society.

b) Sometimes. I know that cultural narratives exist and can sometimes recognize where the influence my thinkings. That being said, I imagine there are aspects of society that affect me that I don’t realize.

c) No, I don’t know what “cultural narrative” means, let alone how it affects me.

One of the elements of human nature that affect us is social comparison. We naturally look to others for answers. As a result, our culture or environment can have a significant impact on us. To improve your self-awareness, you must understand what these cultural narratives are (and especially, which ones are myths). Then, you can identify where they influence your thinking.

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Want to access a free self-awareness test pdf? Download the self-awareness test pdf here.

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Scoring this self-awareness test

You can get fancy with scoring if you want to (although I’d suggest you just take the interactive quiz below if so). For simpler results, you should consider what questions you answered “b’s” and “c’s” for. For any question you answered “b” for, how can you bring greater clarity into your life in this area? For your “c” answers, I’d suggest you really dive into the topic and be intentional with questioning yourself to find the answers you’re looking for.

Keep in mind, you have to knock off at least 10-15 points from your final score.

Why? Because everything in our human wiring – biases, emotions, and thought patterns – makes us think that we’re more self-aware than we are.

Remember, 90% of people think they’re self-aware. Less than 10% actually are.

So what can you do to overcome these enemies of self-awareness?

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Use this self-awareness test to jumpstart your journey: how to be more self-aware

Regardless of the reason you came to this post, you did – which means that you’ve already completed step one. You want to learn more about self-awareness and how it affects your life. Hopefully by this point, you understand the importance of self-awareness, too.

What comes next?

Now that you (hopefully) realize you lack self-awareness, you can start to improve your own. It won’t happen all at once, nor do you ever achieve that perfect end result (which is why many people give up the pursuit). However, if you commit yourself to these three things, you’ll be amazed by the long-term benefits it will have on your life.

1. Educate yourself more on what self-awareness is and why it’s important

Self-awareness is funny because it encompasses two big learning fields: understanding what it is, and then understanding how it affects you personally. I’d recommend reading:

2. Dive into questions to improve your self-awareness

What’s the best way to improve your self-awareness? Dive into questions, of course! But make sure you’re asking yourself the right questions, taking them slowly, and acknowledging that your emotions are still going to get in the way of your answers.

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3. Begin to incorporate mini-habits into your life to develop your self-awareness

Awesome, you’ve used your time today to do some groundbreaking work toward self-awareness. Unfortunately, one day won’t be enough. Fortunately, becoming more self-aware doesn’t require the dedication of a monk with hours every day. Instead, it requires you to incorporate mini-habits into your daily life.

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Commit yourself to reclaiming your life with my FREE guide: The Art of Being Self-Aware: A Complete Guide

Taking this self-awareness test and viewing your results is step one in improving your self-awareness. You can see how self-aware you really are, and you can identify where you might be lacking self-awareness in your life.

However, step two requires a bit more action. Self-awareness is not something you can achieve through one simple test or activity. It takes patience and purposeful practice. Unfortunately, most of us are going about self-awareness all wrong.

Do you know that you might actually be hurting your self-awareness with your introspection and questions?

Fortunately, you can learn all about how you’re holding yourself back. I put together all of the best research and strategies into one easy-to-follow, engaging guide. It’ll teach you all about:

  • What self-awareness is (and what it should look like it your life)
  • The four main enemies fighting against your self-awareness
  • The roles that shame and acceptance play in your self-awareness
  • How to understand and identify your behaviors
  • How to correctly name your emotions and recognize your patterns
  • What your personality, strengths, and weaknesses are (and how to use them)
  • How to define your brand of joy and direction in life (and steps to achieve it)
  • How you can make self-awareness a regular habit in your life

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The best part? It’s completely free.

Why am I giving away this 75-page guide for free? Because I believe in the positive impact it can have, and I believe this work is worth spreading.

Being self-aware completely changed my life. That’s why I created this guide – so other people could achieve the same benefits without spending hundreds of dollars on life coaching and counseling. (Not to mention finding a way to give you the important info in a way that’s actually interesting… reading science journals can be bruuuutal.)

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All you need to do is sign up below, and I’ll email you a downloadable link to the PDF. Don’t worry – if you don’t like my weekly newsletter, you can unsubscribe at any time.

Conclusion

This self-awareness test is meant to help you better understand how self-aware you are. It also can show you where in your life you may need to further develop your self-awareness.

Self-awareness is our ability to understand and identify our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It’s incredibly challenging for humans to be self-aware, but with practice, you can improve your self-awareness.

Take the next step to develop your self-awareness by commenting on one of the questions below, subscribing to this blog, or checking out one of the resources above!

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Read real people’s questions and stories as they search for self-awareness: