teadlikkus

Teadlikkus is an Estonian term that denotes awareness, consciousness, or mindfulness. Broadly, it refers to the state or quality of being aware of something, including one's own mental states, emotions, and the surrounding environment. In everyday use, it can describe attentiveness, situational awareness, or reflective self-awareness.

Etymology: the word is formed from the adjective teadlik (aware) and the suffix -kus, with roots in the verb teadma (to know). The noun parallels similar terms in other languages that pair knowledge with conscious attention.

In psychology and philosophy, teadlikkus is used to discuss levels and forms of awareness, such as sensory, cognitive, and self-awareness. In philosophy of mind, debates may distinguish between phenomenological consciousness (experiencing) and access consciousness (reportable information). In educational and cognitive science contexts, it is often connected to metacognition—the ability to think about one’s own thinking.

In contemporary Estonian discourse, teadlikkus frequently appears in discussions of personal development, health, and education. It is closely linked to practices aimed at fostering present-moment awareness, nonjudgmental observation, and deliberate attention, commonly described in English as mindfulness or mindful living. Programs and curricula in schools and workplaces may promote teadlikkus as a basis for self-regulation, ethical awareness, and learning.

See also: consciousness, awareness, mindfulness, metacognition.