Disclaimer:
Ayan rand says, “Art is not to teach, it is to show”,
Edgar Degas says, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”
and I say, “Art is not what it is, it also can be what it could be”.
I want to expand on the the above ideas based on couple of questions. one, does a person like this exist? and two, what would be the story of such a person, if they exist?
The name Intellectual self awareness is a misnomer for now. This theory is still in development and as I gain knowledge and experience with time, I will have to define the rules and guidelines of the character that is going to embody this theory as it is intricate and non-linear. Once, I have it fleshed out I will rename this theory with an appropriate name. This theory is nuanced and it is possible to not fully grasp the content on the first read. This is my attempt to evoke on a character’s influence in the society from community level to a national level. This character may not exist, it is purely fictional and being developed on the basis of few principles in psychology. I like emotions and I am developing this character to stir emotions in the reader and attract criticism to provoke intellectual thinking and discussions. I would ideally want the reader to either love or hate the character and avoid any middle ground of indifference.
Theory
Intellectual self awareness is focused on a persons behavior and the personality of an individual. an individual is expected to behave differently in different or even same situations. this may mean the individual can have multiple personalities but in no way is related to multiple personality disorder. there will be no change in the core personality of the individual using intellectual self awareness.
To understand this theory, you need first understand two concepts, Self-awareness and meta cognition (Path to Intellectual Self awareness).
using analogy of colors. in the world of dissociative disorder, a multiple personality is like red and blue but an individual’s personality in the world of intellectual self awareness is either only red or only blue. the multiple personalities are the shades of red or shades of blue.
this is also why an individual with intellectual self awareness can be easily construed as manipulative, cunning and ghastly. while this is extensively true in the conventional world, the individual with intellectual self awareness will objectively let you objectively see their actions are justified. ergo, the conventional world now believes that they misapprehended the individual.
it is very important to understand that the individual is in fact manipulative, cunning and ghastly by moral however they are in fact not manipulative, cunning and ghastly by logic.
Since intellectual self awareness is formed on the pillars of meta cognition and self awareness, the individual respects and follows their morals/standards. the individual will follow the below four rules
- actions should be based on the situation alone. same situation can have different actions depending on the internal and external self awareness
- actions must be on the basis of achieving the goal.
- actions must lead to an outcome that’s consistent with the goal
- actions must be based on pure logic
- actions are allowed to be edited and recreated and they must adhere to all the above rules
in my opinion a person with highest form of intellectual self awareness may not exist. the sheer number of intricacies to conceive, define, build and execute actions can easily disarm the individuals ability to live a healthy and fulfilling life. this is also why intellectual self awareness is dangerous and cannot be advocated for all.
on the bright side, the individual with intellectual self awareness will be happy, peaceful, healthy, and wise because they can make great decisions. the individual doesn’t need a therapist, meditation, spirituality as they are already wired into the personality.
Below are some behavioral traits in different situation by a person who follows intellectual self awareness.
To be continued…
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is the perception of one’s own personality or uniqueness. It should not be conflated with consciousness, which is being cognizant of one’s surroundings, body, and existence. In contrast, self-awareness refers to the recognition of one’s consciousness. It involves an individual’s ability to comprehend and acknowledge their own character, emotions, motivations, and aspirations.
Being self-aware means directing your attention to your own actions, thoughts, or emotions and evaluating how well they correspond with your internal standards. Individuals who possess high levels of self-awareness are capable of managing their emotions, aligning their behavior with their values, and accurately perceiving how others view them. In essence, they can objectively interpret their actions, feelings, and thoughts.
Two states of self-awareness:
- Public self awareness or External self awareness
Being cognizant of how we may come across to others can prompt us to conform to social conventions and act in ways that are considered socially appropriate. Although this type of awareness can be advantageous, it can also lead to self-consciousness. Individuals who possess an exceptionally high level of this trait may devote an excessive amount of time to fretting over how others perceive them.
2. Private self awareness or Internal self awareness
Private self-awareness refers to the ability to recognize and contemplate one’s internal state. People who possess this trait are introspective and view their emotions and reactions with interest. For instance, if you notice your body tensing up as you prepare for an important meeting and accurately attribute it to your anxiety about the meeting, you are displaying private self-awareness.
However, when self-awareness becomes excessive, it can lead to self-consciousness, causing individuals to hide certain aspects of themselves and project a false persona that lacks authenticity.
Internal self-awareness pertains to how clearly we perceive our own values, desires, goals, fit within our environment, and the impact we have on others but not hide the authentic personality.
Research suggests that having internal self-awareness is linked to greater satisfaction in both personal and professional relationships, enhanced personal and social control, and increased happiness. On the other hand, lacking internal self-awareness can lead to higher levels of anxiety, stress, and depression.
Tools to become self aware: Meditation, Spirituality, Journaling, Yoga, Therapy, Feedback, introspection, emotional intelligence etc.,
Self awareness is also 1. what you’re doing 2. How you feel about it 3. Figuring out what you don’t know about yourself.
Path to Intellectual Self awareness
self-awareness is merely the first step towards intellectual self awareness. metacognition is the second step. metacognition is to change the thought and emotional patterns which they previously observed with self-awareness. It is not self-consciousness.
Metacognition involves the ability to reflect on one’s thoughts and emotions and have the discipline to modify responses to external stimuli and negative internal thoughts. This enables individuals to attain mastery over their minds and emotions, resulting in stability, tranquility, wisdom, happiness, and resilience. People who possess strong metacognitive skills do not experience negative emotions like anger, envy, insecurity, sadness, or hatred towards themselves or others. They are able to recognize and transform these harmful unconscious patterns into conscious patterns that can be controlled and modified. In other words, they can “edit” and “recreate” the stimulus of the negative outcome to a more positive one. As a result, they are constantly and effortlessly improving themselves, and interacting with them can be a source of inspiration and respect.
Self-awareness is the ability to observe one’s thoughts and emotions without being controlled by them. However, observation alone does not bring about change. Self-awareness provides a foundation for honesty and clarity, but the next step is to modify internal patterns and processes that are harmful to the individual. All actions and feelings stem from unconscious patterns in the mind, and self-mastery is achieved by becoming aware of these patterns and then altering them. For instance, someone with strong metacognitive abilities would recognize feelings of envy towards someone else. They would understand that this emotion is not helpful and could change their response to feel admiration for the person. By doing so, they can learn from that individual, befriend them, and feel genuinely happy for their success.
Metacognition is also the best way to overcome self-esteem issues because it helps one to identify and exit from toxic thought- and emotional-loops, and to then get rid of those harmful patterns from their minds and to replace them with more helpful and constructive patterns instead, which are based on reality rather than the worst-case scenario conjured up by an unhealthy mind. Metacognition allows one to analyze and modify their internal patterns to make changes in their behavior in the real world. People who are competent at doing this difficult internal work are truly happy because they are not slaves to their minds and emotions—they have undoubtedly mastered themselves. The sky is the limit for such people in every sphere of life such as relationships, work, finding meaning and purpose, achieving profound happiness and satisfaction, etc.
The vast majority of people will never get close to achieving this state and I expect only a very small minority of people to ever reach this state, but I only need to find about five other people who can do this—one life partner, two close friends, and a couple of colleagues/collaborators. Interacting, living, and working with them is a pleasure and we can make rapid progress in anything which we attempt. I consider metacognition which is predicated on self-awareness to be the highest form of human intelligence since it enables all great achievements and personal development by removing the artificial mental limits which most people unknowingly place on themselves. Only people who have developed metacognition can experience true freedom and happiness, and they can realize their full potential because they are no longer fighting themselves and because they don’t create their own misery
Power and Pelf 