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Journal Reflection Chapter 2 - The Importance of Self-Understanding

The concept of self-understanding is a valuable component of interpersonal communication. Understanding the interactions one has with others starts with understanding oneself. "The self is an evolving composite of self-awareness, self-concept, and self-esteem" (McCornack & Morrison, 2019, p.31). The way that someone perceives themselves will have a direct impact on the way they communicate with others and the way in which others will perceive them. If someone has a negative self-concept accompanied by low self-esteem then others will pick up on that through the way they communicate or the lack thereof which can be damaging to the individual and those around them. "Low self-esteem individuals experience negative emotions and depressions more frequently, [than those with high self-esteem], resulting in destructive feedback loops" (McCornack & Morrison, 2019, p.34). 
For example, I have experienced low self-esteem as I'm sure others can relate to. During those time periods of low self-esteem, I would isolate myself from others in fear of judgment or rejection and lash out at those closest to me. A negative self-concept paired with low self-esteem can be a very vicious cycle that is hard to break. It is imperative to understand oneself and where these negative feelings stem from in order to improve interpersonal communication and relationships. 



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