“Improvement” is a term that is mostly taken as a negative or demotivating word. If I say, “You need to improve”, it might mean to most people that you are not good enough right now. But, what is important is to understand that not every time would it imply a derogatory effect. It is rather a term misconceived by many of us and this is one phenomenon that needs to change.
Talking about “Self-improvement”, firstly we need to understand and have confidence in the fact that we are amazing as what we are. All those perfections and imperfections correspond and run parallel to define the “limited edition” that God created as Us! Hence, there is no need to change ourselves or completely transition into becoming one of those role models that stand perfect only because of popular disbelief.
The term “self-improvement” is much vaster than this perception. It means increasing your worth or value and taking a deliberate effort to become the “best version of yourself”. It inculcates some life-long healing endeavors like personal development, self-inquiry, goal setting, goal achieving, and all things contributing to personal growth. If you wish to begin this journey, you must a vision of your best self that you believe contributes to your inner qualities. Now, work on bettering the same for your benefit and not for somebody else. If you have all that it takes then the 5 steps below will aid you in starting your self-improvement journey:
Self Introspection
So, this step in your development plan demands of you to ask yourself about your current state of being. Self Introspection is about delving deeper into your life and giving it the time it had been requiring for a long time. It is about becoming curious about why you do what you do, making changes wherever possible, and doing so for the rest of your life. Simply taking notes and observing yourself is the goal.
Journaling, meditation, observing your habits, using an app on your phone to track various tendencies, making notes of your moods, and knowing what irritates you & how, are some paths to self-introspection. Is your life essentially happy and satisfying, or are you surrounded by toxicity? Are you feeling overwhelmed at work, in personal relationships, or with your academic subject? During this stage, there is no need to judge yourself. Simply understand yourself and accept whatever might have happened, now you need to move on and become a better you.
Being surrounded by positivity
The previous point included a major question that says, “are you surrounded by toxicity?” Indeed, one of the biggest reasons why anyone’s growth or improvement may be thwarted or interfered with includes them being surrounded by toxicity. To grow and develop into one’s best -being, it is essential to always surround yourself with positive vibes and optimistic energies. This may refer to the people you interact with, the kind of entertainment (movies, web series, games, etc.) you provide yourself, the kind of lifestyle you live, and more. At some point, these things might not be within our control. We might have to forcefully work around or deal with such people who have grudges or tend to send negative signals but make sure the same is not channeled or reciprocated by you. The situation, if not completely in your control, need not necessarily be completely out of your control as well.
Set Goals & Have a Vision
It can be beneficial to set goals based on what you have discovered after you have inquired about your “current state of being”. It may include a plan or a set of short-term & long-term goals you hold for yourself as you progress in the self-improvement journey. After self-discovery, you may set a vision for yourself that is to be attained in the longer run. Document your plan & follow it every single day. Keep a checklist to track your progress. Through short-term goals, you may set out on this larger journey bit by bit. Hence, by setting these goals and tracking them, you can accomplish your self-improvement every day regularly.
Keep the Optimism always alive
Stay hopeful. Never let those two aspects die out in the journey. You can enforce and reinforce this attitude to keep it alive every day. To stay motivated, write affirmations to remind yourself that you're on the right track. Know that you’re progressing and one day you’ll be where you envision yourself. Record yourself speaking five years from now, when you are living your ideal life. Keep it as a way to stay hopeful and consistent. Make a list of your ideal day, and journal the good thoughts. This may include what you eat, what you wear, and how you feel every morning and night.
Bring All Your Planning into Consistent Action
The final step is Implementing! When you have invested so much into finding and tracking yourself, let’s now put into action what we have planned. Whatever you decide, keep in mind that this self-improvement journey is a lifelong one with many milestones. Some changes will take a week, others will take years, and still, others will be ongoing. The goal of the fifth step of the personal growth checklist is to finally make the desired changes happen. Also, remember that consistency is the key to keeping going till the end.
Therefore, I hope the aforementioned steps will help you bring the desired results in life and your personality. Just keep going to what you set your mind to and remember nothing is unachievable. All the best!
