Final answer:
Self-awareness is the act of thinking about ourselves, involving the recognition of our feelings, thoughts, and states, and should not be confused with self-concept or self-esteem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The act of thinking about ourselves is referred to as self-awareness. Self-awareness encompasses recognizing our feelings, thoughts, and states at any given moment and understanding that these may differ from others' perspectives.
It is essential to distinguish self-awareness from related concepts such as self-concept, which is an understanding of who we are on a more general level, and self-esteem, which is the overall value that we assign to ourselves.
Related to the concept of self-awareness is the principle of congruence, where our thoughts about our real and ideal selves align closely. Meanwhile, self-efficacy is our belief in our own abilities to succeed in various situations. It's important to note that these definitions are deeply rooted in the field of psychology, particularly within the realms of personality and developmental theories.