Understanding the Self
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
Module One
Understanding Self
Ms. Anna Editha I. Hernandez
Module Writer
1
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Module One – Understanding the Self
2. Words That Describe Me
3. Your Personal Identity
4. A Portrait of Yourself
5. Setting Priorities About Values
6. Success Stories
7. Basic Psychological Needs
8. My Unique Picture Album
9. Responding to Change
10. Changes in Our Lives
11. Change and Emotions
12. Understanding Change
13. Transitions
14. My Lifeline – Important People and Experiences
15. “What If” Discussion Groups
16. Two-Minutes Speeches
17. Feedback
Module 1
2
Introduction to Module One
Understanding Self
Knowing oneself is critical to being an effective team member as well as being
successful in life, work, and relationships. Your personal identity influences everything
you do, and it changes and evolves over time.
The purpose of this module is to help you deepen your understanding and
appreciation for who you are as a person. You will explore how you see yourself through
the lenses of personal identity, your skills and talents, roles, values, personal core, and
how you meet your psychological needs. You will also examine how you respond to the
pressures of changes and transitions in your life.
You will have an opportunity to examine how your personal identity has been
shaped by a variety of people and experiences. You will also have opportunities to think
about and discuss your values, interests, hopes for the future, as well as, your strengths
and challenges. You will learn about how your psychological needs are the primary
source that motivates and drives your behavior. You will also learn critical knowledge
about change and how important it is in today’s workplace to be adaptive and to
embrace change as a personal and professional growth experience.
You will be invited and encouraged to take risks, to step outside your comfort
zone, and to challenge your thinking and the thinking of others. You will be engaged in
reflection, partner activities, storytelling, discussion groups, self-assessment, and
giving and receiving feedback.
Words That Describe Me
Circle the words that describe you. Add additional words.
Adaptive
Self-Aware
Tolerant
Dependable
Intelligent
Fearless
Compassionate
Hard Worker
Capable with Hands
Respectful
Calm
Humble
Energetic
Eccentric
Clever
Creative
Confidant
Thoughtful
Complex
Realistic
Cautious
Balanced
Cooperative
Shy
Quiet
Attentive
Picky
Other Words that describe you:
Your Personal
Identity
“Who Are You?”
Roles
I have a responsibility which is helping my family in handling our business
Personal Core
I still doing my best even I
fail because giving up for
those weak people
Learning
I learn not
listen
to those
people
defining you
without
knowing you
Your Personal Identity
“Who are you?”
Values
Family History
The important to me is my
I’m from a middle class
family our family owns
a bakery shop
future that’s why I study,
because education is the first
step to reach anything you
want in this world
Strengths
Hopes for the Future
I am good at singing and
drawing a portrait image.
In the near future I’m going to be
an tourism teacher in schools
Interests
Singing
Drawing
teaching
A Portrait of Yourself

The best thing(s) I ever did was (were) I don’t degrade anyone and not disobey my parents

I wish I could lose my fear of having an conversation in other people

I know I have the talent to speak for other and get people their justice

I enjoy people who is enjoying my company

I admire people that are still humble after winning or achieving their goals

I feel most productive when I don’t have problems to think with

I am motivated by people around me especially my family

I almost never

My idea of fun is doing activities that is good for our sake

Work is exciting when I have motivation

The best advice I ever got was stand even you fail many time

The thing I value most is my Family, Friends, Relatives

If money were no object, I would

It is easy for me to focus on things that I get benefits

My idea of a perfect life is having a good home and good working environment

My best days are I reached college

My dream is to be a teacher

I always wanted to study earth and the universe

I look forward to be an better person each day

I spent too much time in playing games

The thing my friends like about me is I’m good

When I try to change something it never reach my expectation

In a group I like to share idea that will help the group

If I ever win a prize it will be for my own sake
Setting Priorities About Values
Values are beliefs, feelings, and principles that guide a person’s actions and give those actions
meaning.
Values
1.
Money
2.
Peace of mind
3.
Happiness
4.
Success
5.
Nature
6.
Spiritual Life
7.
Friends
8.
Taking on Challenges
9.
Satisfaction with Work
10.
Learning
11.
Balancing Your Life (work and play)
12.
Physical Health
Success Stories
Think about and write two or three of your success stories.
1. I always think that everything will be hard but i still doing it even I fail in my journey.
As a junior high student I face lot of challenges and conflict but even there are lots
Of Failure in my junior high days I still keep on doing things even if I fail later on I didn’t
Notice that it come up with a good result and realize thanks to me that I did not think of giving up
because if you give up, meaning you are stoping your life to move forward.
2.
Since I was a teenager I’m dying to have a smart phone so I always ask my mother
to buy me a phone but my mother told that if I get a high grade she will buy me phone, I didn’t
complain and start working on my study later on I got a new phone because I’ve got a high grade
3. Me and my classmates were ask to join to competition in intrams in our school
there are lots of contestant in that competition, we have a small chances of winning but still we
choose to move forward to the competition. We did our best, our practice is almost everyday
after class, even our free time we are practicing because we want to win, when the day that
Competition starts, all of the contestant were very good at their performance but despite of that
The judges declare that we are the winner, we celebrate with tears because we work hard for it, we did
Our best and it’s worth it.
What does this say about who you are and what’s important to you?
-
It’s says that do your best for you to not regret in the future.
Share with your group “why” these success stories are important to you.
Basic Psychological Needs
Belonging
Recognition
A sense that someone truly cares about
you. That you are in a mutual and loving
relationship with another person.
A sense that you are acknowledged for
what you accomplish and who you are. To
feel significant, that you make an impact.
Freedom
Self-Esteem
The need to have choice in your life, to have a
sense of control over the decisions that direct
your behavior. To be free from a sense of
external control.
The need to feel competent & confident.
The sense that you can achieve results,
make good decisions, and you will stand by
your principles.
Fun
Safety
The need to have joy and laughter in your
life. The sense that we can experience
elation and light heartedness.
The need to feel physically and
psychologically safe. Free from emotional
and physical threats or harm.
My Unique Picture Album
Think about the people, places, and experiences in your life that are very special to you. This is
where you get your psychological needs met. Write two examples in each box of how you meet
this particular need.
Belonging
My family is the most valuable people
In my life and they are the reason why
I still have a dream to pursue in my
Entire life
Self-Esteem
Every time I ware nice clothes I feel
Confident to myself and especially if got a
high grades in the class
Recognition
In my elementary days, I’m a consistent
Honor student and I can’t believe that in
my last year in Elementary I won “Best in
Microsoft Excel in BCEP
Safety
I feel safe when I’m alone also when my
family is with me .
Especially I feel safe I surrounded by nice
people.
Freedom
Fun
Mostly I spend more time to myself than
sharing or having fun with others and when
I am alone, I feel free to do anything
When I have time to have fun I usually spend
my free time alone because there are no
distractions so I can do whatever I want
I’m an introvert person so I find myself free
or happy when I’m alone
Responding to Change
 How do you feel about change? When you are being asked to change, mark where you
fall on the continuum between the descriptions.
bad
annoyed
depressed
anxious
good
excited
enthused
calm
tired
energized
disinterested
interested
discouraged
optimistic
overwhelmed
challenged
 Do you typically embrace or resist change?
I embrace changes because change is the outcome of my decisions, changes help us to realize,
visualize and helping us to be a better person, change exist when you notice that your effort is not
enough so you change it to make it right.
Changes in Our Lives
Think about an important change you made in your life.
1. Describe the change.
When I was 15 years old I noticed that my day is already not productive anymore, I notice
that I’m not comfortable in the entire day if I don’t do something that will help myself or
anyone so I decided to change it, now I always finding ways that will make my day more
productive.
2. What were you thinking going through the change?
I’m thinking that I should work on the change’s for myself because I’m not a kid anymore
that don’t have problems to solve and it’s time to focus more on my goal because I want to
help my family financially.
3. How were you feeling before, during, and after you made the change?
Before the changes all I think is playing and messing around and being immature, acting
like a kid even I am 14 years old but during changes it started to feel uncomfortable and
start realizing that my ways is wrong, so I decided to change it, it was hard ( there is no easy
in life ) but I conquered all of the obstacle and hindrance in my journey to changing myself
and it was worth doing.
Change and Emotions
1. Why is change hard for most people?
Because changes is not easy and very risky, you have to sacrifice one thing or one person
for you to change
2. Why is change easier for some people?
Because they are not afraid of change’s and they know that it’s the right thing to do
3. What strong emotions do people feel when they are asked to change?
Guilt, because they are regretting something that they know that it’s not right. And guilt is
one of the reason why people changing.
Understanding Change
The two most important reasons why people find it difficult to change are loss and fear.
Loss of
Fear of

Control

The Unknown

Confidence

Failure

Identity

Embarrassment

Power/Status

New Responsibilities

Relationships

New People

Hope

Negative Consequences
Talk about some personal examples with participants in your small group.
Fear
Loss
RELATIONSHIP
POWER/STATUS
CONFIDENCE
IDENTITY
EMBARASSMENT
FAILURE
NEW RESPONSIBILITIES
NEW PEOPLE
Transitions
The psychological process people experience when going through change.
Ending
Neutral Zone

loss of identity

experience uncertainty

letting go the old ways and habits

in-between stage

resistance can set in

experience the grieving process
o denial
o anger
o bargaining
o depression
o acceptance

lose or let go old attitudes, values,
and behaviors

Beginning

beginning to realize new
possibilities

outlook changes

feeling of starting a new chapter
in your life
confidence can drop

old doubts arise

feeling uncomfortable

hopefulness

anxiety and worry is normal

confidence rises

confusing state … you let go the
old way, but you are not yet
experiencing the new way

see and experience success with
the change
Bridges, W., (1991). Managing
Transitions. W. Bridges &
Associates.
“It’s not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that place in between that
we fear. There’s nothing to hold onto.” Marilyn Ferguson
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My Lifeline – Important People and Experiences
Who are the important people that have helped shape who you are today?
Birth
5
10
15
20
What are the important life experiences that changed you in some way?
What have you taken forward into your life (attitudes, behaviors, beliefs)?
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30
35
40+
“What If” Discussion Groups
What would you do and why?

What if you won a million dollars? What would you do with the windfall?

What if you could travel to any place in the world? Where would you go, why would
you go there, and who would you invite along?

What If you were granted three wishes? What would you wish for?

What if you had the power to give yourself a special ability? What talent or ability
would you give yourself and why?

What if you had the chance to spend a day with anyone in the world? Who would you
choose and why?
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Two-Minute Speeches
Prepare a two-minute speech about yourself describing the essence of your personal identity,
“Who are you?” You can choose to share a personal story or an interesting experience. You can
talk about your family and career, or your goals and dreams.
Presentation Notes
Debriefing Questions


What was your experience going through this exercise?
How was this difficult for you?


What were you thinking (self-talk) before and during this speech?

What were you feeling before you told your story?
What is it you want us to see in you by telling this story?
GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
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Feedback
A gift or strength I see in you Something I am curious about
mething I am curious about
GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
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