A black heart is floating in the air on a white background.

What is the Meaning of Sense of Self and How to Develop Yours

May 13, 2022
what is sense of self

Your self-identity can positively or negatively affect how you live your life—it all depends on how you see yourself. 


Read on to learn the meaning of sense of self and how you can develop yours. 


What is a Sense of Self?

A sense of self refers to how you see the combined characteristics that make you, you! Personality traits, abilities, beliefs, morals, likes, and dislikes all contribute to your self-image and make up your unique identity. 


Tips For Developing Your Sense of Self

When you have a strong sense of self, you know who you truly are and what you stand for. 


Here’s how you can build a stronger sense of self:

  • List your identities and how each one affects you
  • List your beliefs about yourself, others, and the world around you
  • Research your family history
  • Practice setting healthy boundaries

Looking for More Ways to Improve Your Sense of Self?

When you see yourself positively, you have higher satisfaction with relationships and live your life with purpose—two essential traits for having good overall emotional health. 


The Love of Attraction
can help get you there. 


Contact Us
today. 

Register for our Newsletter and receive a Free Love Chat Package

This Package Includes
  • The 5 Steps to a Better Relationship
  • Ongoing Monthly Relationship Tips
  • If you want more love in your life, our relationship Love Chat Package is an easy cost-free first step.
Click to Register
Woman scolding man on couch; she gestures at a credit card, he looks down
By Kathleen Maiman November 24, 2025
Money fights aren’t about dollars—they’re about emotions. Learn how couples can turn financial tension into deeper trust and partnership.
Couple wrapped in white blanket, smiling, walking in a garden. Green grass, apple trees in background.
By Kathleen Maiman November 17, 2025
Instead of trying to "fix" your partner or stop fights, shift your focus to growth. Learn how a growth mindset deepens intimacy, builds empathy, and creates lasting change.
Man arranging plants near window; woman leaning on mop in living room.
By Kathleen Maiman October 31, 2025
Helping is often celebrated as the hallmark of compassion. Acts of generosity and care can bond people, ease suffering, and foster trust.
A couple sitting on a couch, each using a smartphone, facing away from each other. White brick wall background.
By Kathleen Maiman October 28, 2025
In today’s digital world, screens have woven themselves into every moment of our lives. From the first scroll in the morning to the last glance before sleep: our phones and tablets are shaping how couples are spending time together. Just have a look the next time you go out to dinner and see the couple both sitting on their phone while waiting for their dinner to arrive. While this technology connects partners across distances, it can also subtly erode emotional intimacy when left unchecked. You are not alone if you’ve ever tried to talk to your partner while their eyes are glued to a glowing screen. In today’s world, screen time has quietly become the “third wheel” in many relationships.
Silhouetted figures of two people jumping joyfully on a beach at sunset.
By Kathleen Maiman September 29, 2025
When we first meet, we are the best version of ourselves. We take care of ourselves and show up as our best self. In the first few weeks and months of a relationship, we are on our A game. We dress up, plan dates, show up, have fun, we listen and we are in a good mood and say yes to new experiences and adventures. We a
Road sign showing paths for
By Kathleen Maiman August 26, 2025
When it comes to relationships—romantic, familial, or even friendships—there is an ongoing negotiation between what is true (facts) and what is felt (feelings). Both play vital roles in how partners connect, resolve conflicts, and build lasting trust. Understanding the balance between the two can mean the difference between constant misunderstandings and a relationship grounded in both honesty and empathy. Learning how to balance the two—without dismissing or overemphasizing either—can bring more peace, understanding, and intimacy.
A man and a woman are sitting on a couch, looking away from each other
By Kathleen Maiman July 29, 2025
When someone cheats in a relationship, it causes a trauma. There are three phases of working through the betrayal. Let's explore them together.
A woman is sitting on a bed while a man is laying in bed.
By Kathleen Maiman June 30, 2025
As a relationship therapist, I am seeing more couples in my office with betrayals of deceit, infidelity and emotional affairs. My curiosity and compassion arises when working with these couples, helping them to move beyond the deceit and the betrayal. In the discovery process, we want to get to an understanding of how they got to this place of hurt and deceit.  Here is one of a few blog posts on Betrayal and Infidelity. This one refers to “Why Partners Cheat”.
A man and a woman are smiling and holding hands in the woods.
By Kathleen Maiman June 6, 2025
There are many myths floating around about marriage and relationships that can be detrimental and harmful to relationships. They can create unrealistic expectations and misunderstandings leaving couples down the wrong path, or worse, convince them that marriage is a hopeless cause. Good relationships can end early or fail because of these common myths. Let’s debunk them one by one.
A diagram of emotional intelligence
By Kathleen Maiman May 30, 2025
Are you having difficult conversations that turn into more conflict and withdrawal?  It could be that you are both lacking emotional intelligence.