Being self-aware can lead to a better quality of life.

Pixabay

Gestalt therapy aims to help individuals become more independent by overcoming obstacles that hinder personal growth. This is achieved by cultivating Self-Awareness, which involves recognizing one's attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and thoughts and how they affect one's behavior in social situations.

As people become more self-aware, they better understand themselves and can make changes that help them build positive relationships with others.

Gestalt Therapy takes a comprehensive approach that sees the person as a whole, with their mind and body connected. Their identity includes attitudes, emotions, beliefs, perceptions, fears, needs, expectations, and fantasies. These factors collaborate to shape the outcome—their behaviors and reactions.

People often think they fully understand their identity, but that's not always true. There are many parts of ourselves that we have yet to discover. For example, even if we see ourselves as shy, bossy, or rigid, we may be unaware of other aspects of our personality that still exist in our subconscious. These hidden qualities are known as our shadows.

Limiting oneself to a narrow set of characteristics can negatively affect relationships. The person may unknowingly project their hidden traits onto their partner, leading to self-destructive actions. For example, if the person acts aggressively or tough with their partner, they might mistakenly see these traits in their partner instead of recognizing their role.

To become more self-aware, one must identify and understand the different parts of themselves and how they relate to each other. This includes accepting traits and actions previously rejected or denied as part of one's authentic identity. By going through this process, individuals can better understand themselves. Improve their self-knowledge.

According to Gestalt Therapy, people may have unmet needs that affect their attitudes, thoughts, reactions, and behavior. These needs could be for things like love, acceptance, or recognition. If someone is unaware of these needs, they may come out during their interactions with their partner and harm their relationship. For example, people with excessive needs for love and attention may demand too much from their partner, which could ultimately lead to dissatisfaction.

Suppose a person doesn't address the root causes of the issues affecting their attitudes, thoughts, reactions, and behaviors. In that case, they might keep repeating harmful emotional and behavioral patterns with their partners without realizing it. This can lead to ongoing damage to their relationships, which can only be fixed once the underlying issues are addressed.

Individuals need to develop self-awareness to recognize their negative behavior patterns and choose healthier ways of interacting. This is especially important for building strong relationships.

Gestalt therapy aims to help individuals overcome obstacles.

Unfortunately, obstacles, including their needs and fears, hinder individuals from achieving their maximum potential. Self-awareness is the critical factor in achieving this goal.

Gestalt Therapy is based on developing self-awareness. This is done by helping people understand their interactions with others, taking responsibility for their actions, and making the most of their relationships in the present.