I
wonder why "self-conscious" has come to mean self-critical or
embarrassed, when the words themselves just mean aware of the self--not
necessitating a judgmental eye. The usage implies that to be conscious of the
self is to be self-scolding, when it doesn't have to be that way. To me, self-consciousness
is recognition of one's own strengths as well as weaknesses. It could also
include neutral observations.
