> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.dojoactors.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Self-Aware Actor - URL: https://www.dojoactors.com/self-aware/ - Published: 2024-04-26T04:29:20.000Z - Updated: 2026-02-24T01:29:57.000Z - Author: Tahlia Norrish ****Article precap:** 1️⃣ [Theory](#why-to) 2️⃣ [Practice](#how-to) 3️⃣ [TL;DR summary](#tldr) 4️⃣ [References](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) 5️⃣ [Recommended citation](#cite-us) > "I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion." \~ Billie Jean King Isn't it kinda wild how we can know *everything* about the characters we play – their objectives, super-objective, desires, fears, quirks – and so little about ourselves? We can (and do) fill notebooks upon notebooks with profound insights on Lady Macbeth and Blanche DuBois, but if asked to fill a single A4 page with observations on ourselves, we'd be like 🤷 According to the Oxford English Dictionary, self-awareness is the "Conscious knowledge of one's own character, thoughts, emotions".[\[1\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) Crucially, though, is the conscious knowledge of how our actions, thoughts, and feelings align with the self we intend to be. Now, if you aren't on the woo-woo train in the same way we are, you may be tempted to click away at this point. Fair. But what if we told you that self-awareness is the software actor peak performance runs on? ****Backed by science; built for the stage and screen.** 👊 ****Actors:** Get evidence-informed insights and strategies to support your performance and well-being. [Join the Dojo e-newsletter tribe](https://www.dojoactors.com/#/portal/signup) and make thriving your reality. 🧭 ****Drama schools & Production companies:** Bring pioneering, research-backed coaching into your classroom or rehearsal room. [Let's talk](mailto:dojoactors@gmail.com) about supporting your actors to perform at their peak – and stay well in the process. ## **Why to** First, it's critical to distinguish self-awareness from self-focus. Self-focus, in many ways the opposite of self-awareness, is an excessive preoccupation with our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. Where self-awareness provides the "just right" dose of insight to facilitate peak performance, self-focus sees us so consumed by our internal states that acting in alignment with our values and long-term goals becomes near impossible. Self-awareness is the precursor to self-acceptance and self-improvement. Self-focus precedes self-loathing and self-sabotage. One of the most important things we champion here at the Dojo is specifying a personal [definition of success](https://www.dojoactors.com/define-success/). Curating this definition for ourselves can prove nothing short of game-changing, allowing us to step out of the matrix and navigate life with our own compass. Of course, such defining requires a measure of self-awareness, hence its value. On value, self-awareness is also increasingly rare. Although most people believe themselves to be self-aware, researchers estimate only 10-15% of people actually are.[\[2\]](#%E2%80%8Ccitations) For these reasons and more, we can consider self-awareness a superpower in the modern age. ## **How to** Assuming self-awareness sounds like a superpower we'd benefit from cultivating, how do we go about doing that? Fortunately, there's a range of options, meaning we can double down on those that most vibe, or mix-'n-match as we desire. This list is by no means exhaustive, but a couple of suggestions to get the juices flowing include: - Meditating. Guided meditations can be great here. - Silent solo time in nature. - Journaling. Either brain-dump style or using targeted prompts (e.g., the Proust Questionnaire). - "Personality tests". Technically – *scientifically* – personality tests aren't super valid tools. Pragmatically; however, they can have value, so long as we take them with a generous pinch of salt. The Big Five is considered the best of the lot, but the VIA Character Strengths, Enneagram, and Myers & Briggs can all offer data. "Data" being the keyword. Treat as data, not decrees. - Talk therapy. - Asking for advice / feedback from those we trust and respect. ![Spongebob Squarepants self-awareness GIF](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/51/0351e352-a8b0-4311-8537-94b9b84afb7a/content/images/2024/04/Spongebob-Squarepants-self-awareness-GIF.gif) Whether we cultivate self-awareness exclusively for the peak performance gains or for the performance / woo-woo one-two punch, know that it's an investment worth making. Either way, we'll may just discover that self-awareness really is a superpower for the modern age. ## TL;DR? No worries. Here are the three key takeaways: - Self-awareness is the software that peak performance and holistic well-being run on. - Self-focus isn't self-awareness. Self-sabotage often follows self-focus; self-acceptance often follows self-awareness. - Research suggests that true self-awareness is increasingly rare and, therefore, increasingly valuable. We can turn to evidence-informed tools to help us develop this capacity. --- ****Love what you're reading?** [****Help us keep it flowing**](https://www.dojoactors.com/#/portal/support)****.** Donations support the research, writing, and free sharing of evidence-informed tools for actor performance and well-being. Every dollar fuels our mission to make thriving a reality for actors everywhere 🔥 --- ### ‌**Citations** \[1\] [https://www.oed.com/dictionary/self-awareness\_n?tab=meaning\_and\_use#23779571](https://www.oed.com/dictionary/self-awareness%5Fn?tab=meaning%5Fand%5Fuse&ref=dojoactors.com#23779571) \[2\] [https://hbr.org/2018/01/what-self-awareness-really-is-and-how-to-cultivate-it](https://hbr.org/2018/01/what-self-awareness-really-is-and-how-to-cultivate-it?ref=dojoactors.com) --- ### **Cite us!** IG: @theactorsdojo APA 7: Norrish, T. (2024, April 24). *The self-aware actor*. The Actor’s Dojo.