KNOWING THE ‘SELF’

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
1. Show evidence as to the understanding of the ‘self’ and
self-concept;
2. Learn the theories and principles on how one develops
self-identity.
3. Evaluate the Johari Window as a way to identify the self;
4. Determine the value of knowing and appreciating the self.
 CASE ANALYSIS
Essen is 16 years of age and has been constantly problematic
about her weight. She considers her weight and built as a
great burden in her life as she thought that her classmates
since grade school and high school have tagged her as
‘fatty Essen’. She constantly was bullied for this and so she
had to cease from befriending anybody, not even the
neighbors’ kids. She was resigned to this reality and even
found herself ugly and dirty compared to her schoolmates.
This concept about her looks prevented her from joining
social events including their school’s ‘Junior-Senior Prom’,
 CASE ANALYSIS
Field Trips and even Intramurals where she would just stay in
one corner while appearing to be busy with her phone. She
would very elusive to any attempt of any acquaintance who
would converse with her. She thought that nobody would be
serious about somebody as ‘fat and ugly’ like her.
 CASE ANALYSIS
Let us brainstorm.

1. How does Essen see herself?

2. Why is it that she does not want to make friends?
3. How do these issues affect he life as an individual?
4. How do you think can such issue be resolved?
 ACTIVITY
Who am I?

1. A clean bond paper will be posted at the back of each

students.
2. His/her classmates will write the traits/characters on how
he know his classmates.
 THE JOHARI WINDOW
The unfolding of our strengths, weaknesses, potentials
and talents creates a concept and schema of the ‘self’
which leads to self determination. However there is a need to
scrutinize the varied areas of one’s existence to finally come
up with a concrete essence of the ‘self’. Learning about
one’s unique individuality requires the use of the Johari
Window.
 THE JOHARI WINDOW
1. Open Area – represents the things that you know about
yourself, and the things that others know about you. This
includes your behavior, knowledge, skills, attitudes and
public history.
2. Blind Area – represents things about you that you aren’t
aware of, but that are known by others. This can include
simple information that you do not know, or it can involve
deep issues (for example, feelings of inadequacy,
incompetence, unworthiness, rejection), which are often
difficult for individuals to face directly, and yet can be
seen by others.
 THE JOHARI WINDOW
3. Hidden Area – represents that you know about yourself,
but that others don’t know.
4. Unknown Area – represents things that are unknown to
you, and are unknown to others.
 KNOWING ONESELF
Self – the individuality of a person which is the subject of
learning experiences, varied emotions and thoughts.

Learning about ourselves, our wants, desires, interests,

thoughts and the likes allows not only a more understanding
of what we are but what we want and what will make us
happy.
 HOW DO WE GET TO KNOW
OURSELVES
1. Introspection or self-analysis (Wilhelm Wundt)
• A more in-depth analysis of the self can be initiated by
asking a question that may be thought provoking thus
leading to a series of sub questions or queries about the self
• Such question on the self may include the following:
a. Who am I?
b. What do I really want?
c. Why am I here?
d. What will become of me?
 HOW DO WE GET TO KNOW
OURSELVES
Arguing with one’s self is normal and connotes reflective
thinking which delves deeper into one’s being. Through this
process we become conscious about the things that drive us
and the plans that we have for ourselves based on what we
hold in the present.
 HOW DO WE GET TO KNOW
OURSELVES
2. Keep a self-reflective journal
• Means getting any notebook to jot and record self-
reflection. You usually choose a notebook to write your self-
reflections in.
a. Positive self-reflection is an analysis or assessment of the self
while focusing on the strengths and the abilities, skills,
potentials. To pay attention to the good side of the self and
motivate the “self”
 HOW DO WE GET TO KNOW
OURSELVES
b. Negative self-reflection is an analysis of the self-based on
our weakness, but most especially those failures so as to have
an acceptance and further growth through analysis of what
the shortcomings of the individual are.
 HOW DO WE GET TO KNOW
OURSELVES
3. Be self-aware. This is a skill where we tune in to our feelings,
thoughts and actions to understand how it affects us and the
significant others in our life. It is necessary to ‘see one’s self’
and not how other sees us. What matters is how we regard
ourselves and not how other regards us.
 HOW DO WE GET TO KNOW
OURSELVES
In this activity it is imperative to analyze the following:
a. Errors in what we have done.
b. One’s feelings about some significant events in our lives.
c. Other’s people’s needs and feelings
d. How we affect other people
e. What we can do to address some issues in our lives
 HOW DO WE GET TO KNOW
OURSELVES
4. Self-affirmation
a. Create a Mantra that focus on your inner strength and
beauty.
b. Be grateful that you are alive, normal and productive.
c. Love yourself