Self-awareness is one of those characteristic that does not come naturally to all of us. There are some people who just naturally find deconstructing themselves and their behaviors easier to do. Others may require extra time and effort to gain an awareness of what goes on in their heads.
It is something that applies to almost everything we do. Self-awareness determines how we respond in a particular situation, how we communicate, and how we relate to others. Having a high level of self-awareness makes it much easier to recognize when we are being exposed to unhealthy situations or when there are some things that need to be changed. The best part about self-awareness is that it encourages self-improvement and personal development.
But when one turns inward, this does not necessarily mean that it will be a tedious process. In fact, sometimes it can be a fun activity. For example, there is something about optical illusions which gives an interesting peek into the human mind. It plays around with human perception, causing it to make choices about the things it sees. The item that one locks onto first may say much about their character and emotional makeup.
Below are eight optical illusions that may provide insight into one’s inner workings.
1. Which Direction Is the Figure Moving?
This one is a classic illusion – a picture of a figure, either approaching towards you or going away from you. In spite of its static nature, your mind would pick which way the person is going depending the state of your mind.
If you find the person walking away from you, it means that you are an analyzer by nature. You tend to be logical and enjoy pondering over the situation before acting upon it. Such people have very good multitasking skills and have an excellent intuition about the results too.
On the other hand, if you find that the person is walking towards you, it means that you are highly focused on your work. You are very analytical in approach and like to go through all the intricacies of the issue. Such people have very systematic approach and take a lot of pride in their perfectionism.
Neither of these perspectives is right or wrong; it is simply interesting to know how differently two individuals perceive the very same picture.
2. What Do You Notice First: A Cat or a Mouse?
The next image draws on that age-old hunter-prey relationship. Both subjects in the picture are concealed within the image, but there’s a tendency for our minds to focus more intensely on one subject or another.
If your mind focuses on the feline and then reacts to it as a threat, you are probably someone who is cautious, careful, and strategic. You like having everything in place before you do anything else. In other words, you like things to be stable and well thought-out before proceeding.
If you focused on the little rodent instead, you probably have an element of rebellion and adventure in your character. You believe in going for it rather than taking days to analyze every possible outcome or “what if” situation.
In short, it comes down to which part of your brain is presently attuned to either control or exploration.
3. Do You See Lips or a Sunset?
It may seem quite basic, but this illustration actually highlights some very interesting differences between mindsets.
The illustration of lips would mean that you are a person who is pragmatic and who says what they think and how they feel. They tend to be less optimistic and more critical and analytical. They have a greater appreciation for the truth about a matter rather than its “dream.”
A person who views the sunset would probably be more optimistic, seeing the best side of things and people. They would be very energized by assisting other people in their tasks and problems. This kind of outlook is always characterized by high levels of empathy and openness emotionally.
This particular illustration can be considered a good litmus test for your realism or idealism.
