6 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. An African proverb says, "When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside can do you no harm." Self-awareness is one of the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-were-22-self-awareness-most-important-skill-career-success-guber">most important </a>skills for success. How you behave and respond to external situations is governed by <a href="http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-therapy.html">internal </a>mental processes. Self-awareness uncovers any destructive thought-patterns and unhealthy habits. This leads to better decision-making and behavioral responses.

Here are 12 exercises for greater self-awareness: Before acting on a decision, ask yourself "Why?" Follow up your response with another "Why?" And then a third. If you can find three good reasons to pursue something, you'll have clarity and be more confident in your actions. Being self-aware means <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/conceptual-revolution/201410/why-ask-why">knowing your motives </a>and determining whether they're reasonable. The philosopher <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/Philosophers/Wittgenstein/wittgenstein.html">Wittgenstein </a>said, "The limits of my language means the limits of my world."

Emotions create powerful physical and behavioral responses that are more complex than "happy" or "sad." Putting your feelings into words has a <a href="http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/Putting-Feelings-Into-Words-Produces-8047">therapeutic effect </a>on your brain; if you're unable to articulate how you feel, that can create stress. Here's a <a href="http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/assess/feelings.html">great list </a>of "feeling words" to help with <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sweet-emotion/201408/why-labeling-emotions-matters">labeling </a>your emotions. Increase your emotional vocabulary with one new word each day.

The ability to say "no" to yourself to put off short-term gratification for the long-term gain is an important <a href="https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/willpower-gratification.pdf">life-skill </a>. Like a muscle, it is strengthened with exercise. The more you practice saying "no" to small daily challenges, the better you can withstand major temptations.

There are plenty of daily temptations -- social media, junk food, gossiping, Youtube. Make a goal of saying "no" to five different temptations each day. A person without self-awareness runs on auto-pilot, and responds with knee-jerk reactions. Self-awareness allows you to assess situations objectively and rationally, without acting on <a href="http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/01/stereotypes-why-we-act-without-thinking.php">biases </a>and stereotypes. Take a deep breath before you act, especially when a situation triggers anger or frustration. This gives you time to re-assess whether your response will be the best one.

Nobody is perfect. Being aware of your flaws, but failing to accept accountability, is leaving the job half-done. We're often critical of others, while <a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/08/27/willful-blindness-margaret-heffernan/">ignorant </a>of our own flaws. Self-awareness helps turn the mirror on ourselves and prevents hypocritical behavior. Iteration and self-improvement only happens once you recognize a flaw. Create a habit of acknowledging your <a href="https://hbr.org/2015/06/be-a-leader-who-can-admit-mistakes">mistakes </a>, rather than making excuses. There is non-stop commentary in <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/aug/21/science-little-voice-head-hearing-voices-inner-speech">our heads </a>that is not always helpful. A little bit of <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/10/07/353292408/why-saying-is-believing-the-science-of-self-talk">negative self-talk </a>can spiral into stress and depression.

Pay attention to the way you respond to your successes and failures - do you pass off your achievements as luck? And crucify yourself after failures? Positive and negative feedback-loops will form in your mind based off <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher_Neck/publication/227798028_Thought_selfleadership_The_influence_of_selftalk_and_mental_imagery_on_performance/links/551d9c410cf213ef063e7af0.pdf">how you respond </a>to successes and failures. Being tough on yourself needs to be balanced with <a href="http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/try_selfcompassion">self-compassion </a>. Celebrate your wins, forgive your losses.

Watching yourself on video can be a cringeworthy experience, but awareness of your body language, posture, and mannerisms improves <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en">your confidence </a>. Slouching, or taking a "low-power-pose" increases <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmR2A9TnIso">cortisol </a>and feeds low <a href="http://bigthink.com/neurobonkers/how-your-body-language-alters-your-state-of-mind">self-esteem </a>, while standing tall or taking a "high-power-pose" stimulates testosterone and improves your performance. Using hand gestures helps with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com.au/hand-gestures-reveal-complex-thoughts-2013-6">articulating </a>your thoughts and affects how people respond to you.

Knowing your personality type allows you to maximize your strengths and manage your weaknesses. Understanding your "strengths" and "talents" can be the difference between a good choice, and a great choice. (Strengths are skills and knowledge that can be acquired, while <a href="http://strengths.gallup.com/help/general/125543/difference-talent-strength.aspx">talents </a>are innate).

We all have blind spots in our thinking patterns and behaviors. Asking for regular <a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/carole-robin-how-create-feedback-rich-environment">constructive feedback </a>cuts through any self-deceit or one-dimensional views you might hold. But only ask people you'd consider mentors - those who understand you; whom you respect; and will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.

6 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. An African proverb says, "When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside can do you no harm." Self-awareness is one of the most important skills for success. How you behave and respond to external situations is governed by internal mental processes.

12 Self-Awareness Exercises That Fuel Success

Jayx Mann