How Self-Aware Am I?

Take this quiz to reveal your level of self-awareness.

Self-awareness is the ability to examine your own thoughts, words, and actions, and observe how they affect the world around you. It’s an important skill to have if you want to grow and learn as a person. Some of us are more self-aware than others…so, how self-aware are you?

Answer these 12 quick questions, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know. To discover whether you’re a super self-aware person or you’re blind to your own behavior, click “Start Quiz” now.

A woman uses their finger to write “Who am I?” into the fog of a mirror.

Quizzes Are More Fun With Friends

Share this quiz with your friends and compare results.

Questions Overview

1. Do you ever say things you regret?
  1. Rarely. I always carefully think about something before I say it.
  2. Sometimes. I don't always know what'll come out of my mouth.
  3. Often. I tend to say things I don't really mean.
  4. I don't know. I don't really think about the things I say, I just say them.
2. How do you feel when you look at old photos of yourself and think about who you used to be?
  1. I feel proud of how far I've come since then.
  2. I feel a little embarrassed of who I was, but I don't let it get me down.
  3. I yearn to go back to the person I was in those photos.
  4. I don't know, or I don't feel much.
3. Do you think it's easy to know what you're feeling and why?
  1. Yes. I tend to understand my emotions and why I'm feeling them.
  2. Usually. I know what I'm feeling, but why I'm feeling that way isn't always obvious.
  3. Not really. I have trouble grappling with and figuring out my emotions.
  4. I don't know, or I'm not sure.
4. You overslept, and now you're a half-hour late for a meet-up. What do you do?
  1. I call my friend, explain the situation, and apologize for the inconvenience. I'll set an alarm next time.
  2. I rush to meet my friend and make up a good excuse to cover my tracks.
  3. I'm not worried about it. They know I can sometimes be late, so it's not like it's a surprise.
  4. I don't know, or I'm not sure.
5. Someone asks for your seat on the bus, but you're feeling a bit sick yourself. What do you do?
  1. I apologize and tell them that I need to sit down, but I don't give up my seat.
  2. I give up my seat and stand. As long as I can help someone else, I'll deal with it.
  3. I say no, and don't explain. I don't owe them anything.
  4. I don't know, or I'm not sure.
6. During a big game, you miss a goal and your team ends up losing. How do you feel?
  1. I’m disappointed, but proud of myself for trying my best, no matter what anyone says.
  2. I feel embarrassed that I lost the game for my team, and like I should apologize.
  3. I'm frustrated my team didn’t work harder to help us win when I was giving it my all.
  4. I'm not sure, I'll have to have some time to process.
7. How might you respond when someone tells you you're wrong, even if you're pretty sure you're correct?
  1. I stop and consider the possibility that maybe I am wrong, then do more research to find the truth.
  2. I hear them out, but I probably won't change my mind. I know I'm right.
  3. I stop listening. They have it wrong, and there's no point in arguing.
  4. I change my mind. They must know something I don't.
8. A close friend has been acting strange and distant. What do you do?
  1. I bring it up and ask what’s wrong. If I did something to hurt them, I want to know.
  2. I let it play out and hope things get back to normal soon. I hope they’re just having a bad day.
  3. I put more distance between us. If they have a problem with me, they should say something.
  4. I don't know, or I'm not sure.
9. How easy is it for you to tell what other people are thinking?
  1. Very easy. I have a good sense for people’s vibes, especially when it concerns me.
  2. Somewhat easy. I can’t always tell, but I can read the emotions of people close to me.
  3. Somewhat difficult. It’s often hard for me to tell what other people are thinking and feeling.
  4. Very difficult. It’s hard enough decoding my own thoughts, let alone other people’s.
10. Your friend asks you to do an important favor, but you don't think you have the skills to do it. What do you do?
  1. I decline and explain I'm not the best person for the job. I don't want to mess anything up.
  2. I offer to do it anyway, but let them know that someone else might be better.
  3. I accept and don't say anything. I'll figure it out as I go.
  4. I don't know, or I don't reply and hope they figure it out themself.
11. A friend holds a birthday party but doesn’t invite you. How do you react?
  1. I don’t think about it. There’s probably a good reason, and it’s probably not personal.
  2. I let it slide, but ask my other friends what they think. I can’t help but wonder why I wasn’t included…
  3. I ask the host why they didn’t invite me. It might be a bit much, but so is excluding me in front of everyone.
  4. I don't know, or I'm not sure.
12. You run into someone who hurt you years back, and they invite you to lunch later. Do you accept?
  1. Yes. Enough time has passed that we're both different people. I'll give them a chance.
  2. I accept, but only to be polite, and I'll probably bail. There's no reason to expose old wounds.
  3. I turn them down. They had their chance with me, and they blew it.
  4. I don't know, or I'm not sure.

More Quizzes

Did you like this quiz?


But being so self-aware can be a little exhausting, and sometimes when you're constantly analyzing yourself, you can forget to look up and enjoy the world and the people around you. You might even be holding yourself back. It's not always easy, but try to let loose a little bit! Breathe in, out. Relax your shoulders. Listen to the sounds and look at the sights, and remember there's a whole world outside your own head.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Stop-Feeling-Self-Conscious"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-Self-Confident"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Stop Feeling Self Conscious","id":48677,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Stop-Feeling-Self-Conscious","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Stop-Feeling-Self-Conscious-Step-18-Version-4.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Stop-Feeling-Self-Conscious-Step-18-Version-4.jpg","alt":"How to Stop Feeling Self Conscious"},{"title":"How to Be Self Confident","id":573888,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-Self-Confident","image":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Be-Self-Confident-Step-16.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-Self-Confident-Step-16.jpg","alt":"How to Be Self Confident"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You're pretty self-aware!","meaning":"And by that we mean you're about as self-aware as the next person, or maybe even a little more. Usually, you know exactly what you're doing and why, and you have control over your own thoughts and actions. You also tend to stop and think about how those actions might affect other people, and can correct your behavior if you think it'll do any damage. You have a pretty good grasp on other people\u2019s opinions of you, and can often tweak those opinions with a well-placed comment or positive interaction. You're a thoughtful and introspective person who's aware of your place in the world, and how you can change it, and we need more people like you!","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Meditate-for-Self-Discovery"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Self-Esteem-vs-Self-Confidence"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Meditate for Self Discovery","id":407932,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Meditate-for-Self-Discovery","image":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Meditate-for-Self-Discovery-Step-12-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Meditate-for-Self-Discovery-Step-12-Version-3.jpg","alt":"How to Meditate for Self Discovery"},{"title":"What\u2019s the Difference Between Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem?","id":13869066,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Self-Esteem-vs-Self-Confidence","image":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Self-Esteem-vs-Self-Confidence-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Self-Esteem-vs-Self-Confidence-Step-13.jpg","alt":"What\u2019s the Difference Between Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem?"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You're not always self-aware.","meaning":"You're not not<\/i> self-aware, it's just that some mornings you forget to flip the switch in your brain that activates the \"Who am I?\" machine. Sometimes you say something careless that you don't really mean, before you have time to think it through, or you do something without considering how it might affect others. You also sometimes have trouble deciphering how other people see you, and may not be sure of how to read them. And you're not alone! We can't always be on top of ourselves 24\/7, and everyone loses sight of who they are, what they're doing, and what they think of you, so don't sweat it too much.

But you can exercise and strengthen your self-awareness like a muscle, so that you have fewer of those \"Did I really just say that?\" moments. Here's one exercise: A few times a day take a look around you and ponder your surroundings. Where are you? How did you get here? What are other people doing? Why? They may seem like silly questions, but trying to answer them is a huge step in being more conscious and considerate of both yourself and others. You got this!","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Raise-Your-Self-Awareness"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Self-Reflect"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Raise Your Self Awareness","id":2340086,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Raise-Your-Self-Awareness","image":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Raise-Your-Self-Awareness-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Raise-Your-Self-Awareness-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Raise Your Self Awareness"},{"title":"How (and Why) to Self-Reflect","id":1886564,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Self-Reflect","image":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c1\/Self-Reflect-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Self-Reflect-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How (and Why) to Self-Reflect"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You may not be very self-aware.","meaning":"If you got this answer, you probably selected \"I don't know\" or similar results for the majority of the questions, and so it follows that you might not be super sure about who you are and what you think about things. That's okay! We're all on our own journeys of self-discovery, and you're taking yours at your own pace. Right now, though, you might struggle to decipher your own feelings, thoughts, and opinions, as well as the feelings and thoughts of others, which we know from experience can be pretty isolating.

That doesn't mean you'll never be self-aware, though! Self-awareness is like a muscle that you can build over time. To start, here's an exercise: Next time you interact with someone, anyone, take a moment after the interaction to imagine what that person's experience must have been like. Did they think something you said was funny? Did they learn something from the conversation? Don't worry too much about whether the interaction was positive or negative, just focus on getting into other people's heads. That's the hard part done!","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Get-to-Know-Yourself"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Know-Your-True-Self"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Get to Know Yourself: A Guide to Self-Discovery","id":9413573,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Get-to-Know-Yourself","image":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/28\/Get-to-Know-Yourself-Step-14.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Get-to-Know-Yourself-Step-14.jpg","alt":"How to Get to Know Yourself: A Guide to Self-Discovery"},{"title":"How to Know Your True Self","id":5213818,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Know-Your-True-Self","image":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Know-Your-True-Self-Step-18.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Know-Your-True-Self-Step-18.jpg","alt":"How to Know Your True Self"}],"minimum":0}]" class="quiz_results_data"/>\"Delusional<\/picture>","alt":"Delusional Test"},{"title":"Am I Mature Quiz","id":14060092,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Maturity-Test","image":"\"Maturity<\/picture>","alt":"Am I Mature Quiz"},{"title":"Do I Have Common Sense Quiz","id":14312708,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Common-Sense-Quiz","image":"\"Common<\/picture>","alt":"Do I Have Common Sense Quiz"}],"number":1},{"text":"Tell me more about how other people see me.","result":"Totally! Check out some of these helpful quizzes:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"What's Your Red Flag Quiz","id":13203021,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Relationships\/What%27s-Your-Red-Flag-Quiz","image":"\"What's<\/picture>","alt":"What's Your Red Flag Quiz"},{"title":"Am I Annoying Quiz","id":14324155,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Am-I-Annoying","image":"\"Am<\/picture>","alt":"Am I Annoying Quiz"},{"title":"Am I a Bad Person Quiz","id":14285243,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Am-I-a-Bad-Person","image":"\"Am<\/picture>","alt":"Am I a Bad Person Quiz"}],"number":2}]}" class="quiz_questionnaire_data"/>

The Scoop on Self-Awareness

What is self-awareness?
Self-awareness is a lot of things, but in a nutshell, it’s how we see and process both ourselves, and the effects we have on the world around us. Someone who’s self-aware has a decent grasp on their emotions and why they feel them, and understands how their own words and actions affect other people. You might say self-awareness has 2 major categories: introspective self-awareness, where you examine your own thoughts and feelings, and outward self-awareness, where you examine how those those thoughts, feeling, and actions influence your surroundings.

Why is self-awareness important?
Self-awareness influences how you interact with the world around you, and with other people. Just think: Was there ever a time when someone was standing a little too close to you on the subway, or when someone said something that hurt you without realizing it? If they’d had a little more awareness of themselves and their surroundings, you might not have been inconvenienced or hurt. The same rule applies to yourself. The more in tune you are, the more pleasant you can be.

And that extends to bigger things, too, like your politics and worldview. If you never examine your own values and opinions, those values and opinions are more likely to be influenced by other people, and not necessarily for the better. Also, if you’re not aware of how or why you’re making mistakes—in your art, work, relationships, and everything else—then you’ll never figure out how to correct and grow from those mistakes. That’s why it’s important to foster self-awareness.

What are some traits of a self-aware person?
Self-aware people:

  • Acknowledge their mistakes, and ask themselves how they can fix them.
  • Interrogate why and how they think or believe something, instead of just taking it at face value.
  • Understand when they hurt others, and attempt to make things right.
  • See things from others’ point of view, even if it seems incorrect.
  • Recognize and understand their own strengths and weaknesses.
  • Are constantly growing as people.

How do you become more self-aware?
Glad you asked! And actually, the fact that you asked means that you’re pretty self-aware, already. And if you want to hone your self-awareness, the first step is exercising your empathy. Empathy is an understanding of what other people feel, and why. If you can understand this, then you can more easily understand how your own words and actions affect others, for better or worse, and start working to figure out how to improve those thoughts and actions.

Here’s a simple exercise: Visit a public place, like a park, mall, or cafe, and do a little people-watching. As you do, ask yourself: What does this stranger want right now? Where are they going, what are they doing, and why? What would make them happy? What would make them frustrated? Then, as you move about the world, running errands and seeing friends, ask yourself: How do other people see me? What about me makes them see me that way? How do I see them, and why?

As you start to ask these questions, you’ll become more and more aware of your place in the world, and how you factor into it.

Want to learn more?

You Might Also Like

Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Jun 12

    "I like how intelligent you make me feel!"
Share your story