ABSTRACT
From the first time I was invited to reflect on myself (in a personal growth group in graduate school), I have enjoyed the excitement of learning about myself. I yearned to be more in touch with myself, to know why I behaved as I did and how others experienced me, to discover hidden parts of myself, and to feel better about myself. I became hooked on self-awareness. I was hungry to know myself. But expanding my awareness often has been painful and challenging as well as exciting. Early on I wished I could turn back, could diminish my growing awareness. But there was no turning back for me. Though I have taken respite along the way, to this day (and I hope every day of my life) I look for ways to hone my awareness and, in so doing, to nourish my self-esteem.
