Personal Development: The Best Tips to Do It Right
In this post, we'll look at how to start with personal development, its benefits, and tips and approaches to use for it.
Working towards personal development and self-improvement is a positive sign. It shows that we want the best for ourselves and are willing to put in efforts for self-improvement. However, like all other things, there should be balance. It is important to not obsess over it.
Let’s learn how to develop ourselves in the right way.
Personal Development: Have the right mindset
Whatever we do in life, it will serve us best when we come from a place of love and faith in ourselves. The desire to improve should not root from the feeling of not being enough or to prove ourselves to someone.
It should come from wanting and giving ourselves the best that we can because we know we deserve it. When our outcome originates from efforts made with the right mindset, it will give us the greatest joy.
Always be a friend to yourself, wherever you are, whatever you do. And, be patient. This is a long-term investment made by many small steps. Everything won’t change in a day or a week, but little by little, you will grow into a better version of yourself.
Benefits of personal development
Apart from the obvious benefits of seeing the changes that we wanted, working on ourselves helps in:
- Empowerment
Taking charge of your life and giving yourself what you need is a highly empowering experience. Knowing that you are responsible for how you deal with life’s events gives you the power to choose their meaning and value. - Motivation & Resilience
When you know what you want to achieve, the results are right there on your mind, waiting to be accomplished. These goals inspire us to remain consistent with our efforts and put in the work that we need to, even when times get challenging. - New opportunities
As we develop ourselves, we attract opportunities that now fit our personality because we are ready to receive them. With a beaming heart and healthy mindset, what is good for us naturally comes our way. - A better YOU
This doesn’t mean that you’re lacking something right now. There is not some void that you have to fill. A better version of yourself means a version that is more aware, more confident and knows what is important to you. A version that gives you the respect and care that you deserve.
Steps for Personal Development
1. Set actionable goals
If your goal is to become more grateful and appreciate what you have instead of missing what you don’t, keep a gratitude journal and write one thing that you are grateful for every day.
Similarly, if you want to improve how you communicate with others, set goals to read more, watch informational videos, observe people that can help you learn, and implement those tips in your conversations. Make small steps each day to steadily improve.
2. Hold yourself accountable
It is natural to be highly focused and motivated in the beginning, but to really succeed at something, consistency is the key. This is why it is advised to make small steps towards a big goal as it breaks down the efforts into achievable parts.
Once that is decided, make it point to complete those steps consistently. As mentioned in the example above, writing regularly in your gratitude journal will eventually make you a more grateful person.
Here, making that one step to write every day is essential. Be sure to take the responsibility of holding yourself accountable as this is your self-development journey.
3. Listen, watch and read helpful material
Surround yourself with content that will empower you and provide the guidance to help you reach your personal development goals.
It is not easy to stay motivated each day, and when some setbacks might cross your way, helpful content will support you to keep going.
Related: 107 Highly Empowering Quotes to Boost Your Self-Worth
4. Learn a new skill
Is there something that has always intrigued you? Are there some skills that you wish you had, even just for fun? Opening yourself up to new and untested waters is a great way to develop your personality.
It makes you smarter and gives freshness to your mind. Think about it. If you practice something for a month, say, playing the guitar, you would move from a point of knowing zero chords to playing a few songs!
Go ahead and explore what you can learn. Check out platforms like YouTube, Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera, etc.
5. Switch your perspective
Quite a lot of times, how we respond to a situation decides its impact on our lives. It’s true, we can’t control everything that happens, but most times, we can choose the lens that we look through.
When we fail, do we focus on the mistake or the lesson learned? When we’re struggling with change, do we choose to complain or practice patience?
Actively switching our perspective to think better is a great way to develop ourselves.
Related: How To Use Gratitude to Reframe Your Mindset and Think Positively
6. Identify your triggers
As you go through days, observe your behavior. What makes you react? What irritates you? When do you have a hard time being patient? Do you get stressed easily? What makes you insecure?
Identify the points that you can improve upon to bring more peace into your life and work on them. Ask your friends and family too about the ways that you could improve how you interact with them.
For example, if you feel stressed out easily, take steps to feel calmer. Meditate, do breathing exercises, say positive affirmations to yourself, etc.
7. Adopt healthy mental health habits
Taking regular steps to care for our mental health nurtures it for the long haul.
Be mindful of your self-talk, give yourself the rest that you need, be kind to yourself, do things that feel therapeutic to you, keep in touch with people that uplift you, do meditation, keep healthy boundaries, and don’t ignore the times when you feel that your mental health is getting compromised.
Related: Best Habits to Improve your Mental Health
8. Build healthy relationships
We can’t exist in isolation. All of us are in significant ways a product of the relationships that we have had through life.
Keep close to the ones that want the best for you. Don’t be afraid to move away from the ones that pull you down.
Having less but really valuable friends that you can rely upon and learn from helps grow your personality to become someone that you can admire.
Related: 5 Ways to Use Gratitude to Grow Stronger Relationships
9. Let go of the past
We tend to hold on to regrets for much longer than we need to. No matter how much we try, we can’t ensure that we will never make mistakes, never miss opportunities, and live up to the expectations that we have.
The past is past, let’s remember the lessons that it gave us, and let it go. Living in the present is a beautiful way to live life. No one has seen tomorrow. Let’s appreciate the moment that we have.
And, that’s it for today!
Personal development, in my opinion, is a form of self-care. It is a way of providing yourself with the resources and mindset that will enrich your life. Be patient with yourself in your journey.
Remember that you’re human, and enough just as you are. You will adopt healthier behavior and hone your skills by working on yourself, but make sure to honor the person that you are right now.
Coming from a place of love for yourself as you develop will ensure that you have peace of mind every step of the way and have an enriching journey.
I wish you the best!
Read More: Tips to Form a Healthy Relationship with Yourself
