metacognition – A (V) in Writing:

The word degustation means what it says: not “consumption of” but “tasting”, “savoring” … You are in the country of the art of good food, and this degustation is very like what you do in art gallery, unless your soul is lost

Eleanor Clark, The Oysters of Locmariaquer

When I encountered this word, it lingered on my tongue and echoed in my mind throughout the day. Like a spell, I found myself whispering it over and over. The way it rolls with the emphasis on the d, glides through the g, and then strikes with the crisp t—it’s as if the entire word is a harmonious symphony contained in a single breath. However captivating its pronunciation, it is the meaning that got me thinking.

The idea of savoring time—of making it the centerpiece, the grand protocol of certain days—felt profoundly gripping. Then I realize I am locked by one impertinent challenge: my hustle-driven mindset and dopamine-craving brain seemed utterly incompatible with the art of savoring. An action as seemingly trivial as reaching for my phone in the middle of an epic reading, or drifting to thoughts of food during a conversation, or feeling restless during a free day while obsessively thinking about the next work to tackle—this is how my brain engages with time. This entire reflection forms the backdrop of what I want to pursue in 2025: the deliberate honing of my ability to savor.

Yet, the act of savoring is not just about tasting the richness of time—it is also about cultivating self-awareness. Recognizing and addressing the patterns that steal our attention requires a deliberate understanding of the self, a state of heightened metacognition. In fact, self awareness is all about degustation–savoring, knowing, realizing, not letting moments fleeting carelessly.

Self-Awareness in The Perspective of Science

For thousands of years, theologians and philosophers have emphasized the significance of human self-consciousness—the capacity to reflect upon our own psyche and nature—as a defining feature of our kind. Similarly, Carl Linnaeus’s revolutionary biological classification described our species with the phrase “Homo. Nosce te ipsum” (“Man. Those that know themselves”).

Psychologists term self-awareness as metacognition, which translates to contemplating our thoughts–thinking about thinking, derived from the Greek “meta,” signifying “beyond” or “after.” The emergent field of metacognitive neuroscience is unveiling the intricacies of human introspection. Merging pioneering lab experiments with advanced brain imaging methods, we’re acquiring a deeper understanding of how self-awareness operates from a mental and biological standpoint. We have learned that specific brain networks activate during self-reflection due to the development of advanced brain imaging methods like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Moreover, any harm or ailment affecting these networks can result in profound disruptions in self-awareness.

The current literature’s explanation of self-awareness delivers the same song. Increasing self-awareness enables us to actively govern our thoughts, emotions, and actions rather than being ruled by them. Understanding oneself is the foundation for goal-setting. If we’re sufficiently self-aware, recognizing our strengths and limitations guides us in defining objectives and the tactics to realize them. Moreover, this insight into our behaviors and sentiments aids in a deeper comprehension of others, paving the way for stronger relationships.

Self-awareness offers many benefits that substantially enhance personal and professional life aspects. Psychological research on cultivating self-awareness has shown that individuals can more effectively manage and regulate their emotions, leading to more straightforward communication and more informed decision-making. This heightened understanding of oneself can significantly improve interpersonal relationships and elevate happiness. A deepened self-recognition boosts confidence, which can translate to increased job satisfaction. In leadership roles, those who are self-aware tend to display superior leadership skills, as they have a more holistic perspective on situations. Furthermore, with a clearer understanding of their motivations and tendencies, self-aware individuals are poised to make more advantageous choices in various facets of life, especially in facing uncertainty.

From 2023 onward, about 85 million jobs could be taken over by machines, but around 97 million new jobs might also fit better with how humans, machines, and computer programs work together. Additionally, with war and geopolitical conflicts looming over our heads, we expect the future to be uncertain and require individuals to be highly adaptive. If self-awareness sets individuals apart from others who can withstand uncertainty, then learning to use this skill is vital for our future success. It’s starting to make sense why the WEF (World Economic Forum) has chosen self-awareness as one of the must have skills by 2030.

Self Awareness In Deeper Meaning

However, self-awareness was not merely developed to share our thoughts and emotions; it is more fundamental than that. The ability to be self-aware is embedded in our identity as human beings; it differentiates us from animals. To give context, let’s stroll into pop culture’s realm; in the “Dune” novel by Frank Herbert and its subsequent recent film adaptations, the Gom Jabbar test is a pivotal early scene that sets the tone for the challenges Paul Atreides will face.

Paul (played by the handsome Timothee Chalamet) is asked to place his hand inside a mysterious box. While his hand is inside, the Reverend Mother holds a poisoned needle called the Gom Jabbar to his neck. She explains that he must keep his hand inside the box, no matter what he feels, or she will prick him with the needle, which will result in instant death. Despite the excruciating pain, Paul withstands the test, proving his exceptional mental and emotional strength.

Regarding the test, in the book Frank Herbert wrote:

“You’ve heard of animals chewing off a leg to escape a trap? There’s an animal kind of trick. A human would remain in the trap, endure the pain, feigning death that he might kill the trapper and remove a threat to his kind.”

If Paul Atreides had relied solely on his animalistic instincts, he would have withdrawn his hand from the box, resulting in the immediate and fatal activation of the Gom Jabbar needle. Similarly, revisiting the story of Stanislav Petrov in 1983, when a Soviet early-warning system mistakenly signaled an incoming U.S. nuclear strike, offers a profound lesson. Had he succumbed to panic and let his survival instincts take over, he might have authorized a retaliatory nuclear launch based on a computer error, potentially triggering catastrophic consequences.

As Self Awareness becomes the current sexy theme in modern personal development pursuit, it has been the core of Islamic teaching since the beginning of time. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, The messenger of God, said, “He who knows himself knows his Lord”, signifying that a person who knows themselves is closer to knowing God. On another note, Mawlana Jalalludin Rumi, in the same tone also delivered that “The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want you already are”.

Here is the big revelation: Science recognizes self-awareness as a branch of knowledge among others, a human feature–a must have skill to prevail in the future economically challenged and progressing world, but for the mystics, being self-aware is the ultimate goal of our creation.

Being Aware of Self Awareness Is Not Enough

Here is the thing, reading a number of books of self awareness and knowing what it is and its importance won’t lead us to its skill acquisition. We have to put it into practice, and here are some ways that we can do to be more self-aware:

Realize that We Need Feedback: Contrary to popular belief, studies have shown that people do not always learn from experience, that expertise does not help people root out false information, and that seeing ourselves as highly experienced can keep us from doing our homework, seeking disconfirming evidence, and questioning our assumptions. Therefore, actively seeking feedback and learning to respond healthily to them can be an excellent resource for our growth.

Find a mentor or a role model: A mentor or role model can provide you with guidance, support, and advice on your dilemma. They can help you to set realistic goals and develop a plan to achieve them. They can also help you to overcome challenges and obstacles. Ultimately, a mentor is the one who will give you the feedback that you need while having their best interests in mind and are willing to tell you the truth.

Have a medium and time that allows you to contemplate your thoughts and choices. Also, learn to record them: Our brain sometimes has the best ideas but rarely can keep up with organization and upkeep. Some people try meditation, journalling, or keeping a brain dump on their notes.

Cultivate good habits: The most productive behaviors are often not aligned with our habits and preferences. With a habit, our brain creates a shortcut and moves from stimulus to response without thinking, saving both time and effort—this is a mental muscle that needs to be trained.

Reframe Why Question to be What Question: In finding the root cause of a problem, why questions can be helpful; however, depending too much on “why” questions potentially leads us to overthink and invites unproductive negative thinking. When the researchers had people evaluate the accuracy of the feedback, the “why” students spent their energy rationalizing and denying what they’d learned, and the “what” students were more open to this new information and how they might learn from it. For example, instead of asking, “Why do I feel so terrible?” we will reframe it into asking, “What are the situations that make me feel terrible, and what do they have in common?”
Be in a community with similar goals: Remember that self-awareness is a product of social architecture; therefore, we need an environment with similar goals to motivate our growth.

Seeking for Community?

As an introverted person, incorporating goals centered around self-awareness while involving others has always been a challenge for me. However, last year, I took a bold step and initiated a community event called Unplugged. Over the course of four three-hour sessions, we created a space dedicated to engaging deeply with our thoughts and cultivating self-awareness, free from the distractions of smartphones. Each session was thoughtfully designed, focusing on activities like journaling for introspection, networking to foster meaningful connections, and communication exercises to enhance our ability to express and understand ourselves.