Personal growth means a lot of different things to a lot of people but is proven to genuinely improve your life. It should be one of the deepest needs of any person and isn’t just for those who feel stuck or have a significant obstacle to overcome. The process first starts with self-awareness to determine what makes you genuinely happy in life. It consists of building a person’s capabilities and potential, building or renewing self-identity and self-esteem, improving employability, enhancing your quality of life, and realizing dreams and aspirations. The process of improving oneself is often not easy or comfortable and is arguably one of the most important activities you can do.
Benefits of personal growth
Personal growth affects every single aspect of our life. As we grow personally, we feel more energized about life in general. We are more motivated because learning and growing add motivation and a sense of excitement.
Many books explain that personal growth is necessary for a happy life. People who grow are happier than people who do not. They are healthier. They have a loving family. A loving partner shares their life. Their work colleagues respect them and help them to achieve the life of their dreams.
How to achieve personal growth
So, what are some ways we can achieve this personal growth? Experts have made helpful lists. Below are some of the keyways that people can find happiness – People are different from one another and what works for one might not work for another.
Identify your goals and obstacles
The fastest way to figure out how to improve yourself is first to become self-aware of what you want to improve. What are the results that would make you happy? What is the desired outcome for these goals? And take a look at what’s getting in your way. What things feel like a roadblock to achieving the above goals and see how you can work with them or remove them to get you closer to your objectives?
Be healthy
You may have heard the saying; “If you have good health, you have everything”. There is a lot of truth in that. Think of the times in your life when you have been ill. When you are sick, nothing holds interest. A job that you were good at becomes more than you can do. Have you sat down to watch a favorite show but found it boring? If you are sick, that may happen. No one can guarantee that they will not get sick. There are things we can do to keep ourselves healthy. The right time to start those behaviors is today. We can watch our diet and try to achieve a healthy weight. You have heard the expression “garbage in, garbage out.” People who spend time and money on junk food know it’s true. They stay up late. They get little sleep. They try to avoid the messages that their body is sending them every day.
Grow in Mindfulness
Do you pay little attention to where you are or what you are doing? Exercising our minds every day can change our emotions and moods. Mindfulness meditations are as close as our phones. Many apps can help you meditate. It is worth your while to have a look at them.
Manage Your Time
The time we get to spend on this earth is short. Managing our time is something that we all should learn. Proper time management is a key to joy. But how can we know to do that? The internet is full of helpful resources. There are tools, tips, tricks, and apps to help us better spend our time. A simple Google search may be all it takes to become a time ninja!
Helping Others
Focus on helping others, but if you can’t help them, don’t hurt them. There is nothing to be gained from being bitter, nasty, horrible, and spiteful to others. We all know the story of Scrooge. He did not help others. He thought only of himself. The effects were brutal. Don’t be a scrooge. There are chances to volunteer in your community. A homeless shelter might be nearby. Hospitals can provide meaningful opportunities to volunteer. Pet shelters might need help. See what events are near you, and volunteer!
The odds are your volunteer work is going to contribute to your happiness.
Choose the right career
You may know somebody who has a job that they do not like. If you ask them, they will tell you that they are just in it for the money. If they won the Lotto, they would quit. We spend more time at work than we do with our families. So, isn’t it wise to ensure that our workplace is a place that we love? Work should be a place where we are happy and fulfilled. We should be able to grow rewarding friendships with our colleagues. If you are in the wrong career, then do something about it. A career counselor can help. Spend time redirecting your career. Invest in your future prosperity and happiness!
Learn to have fun
Having fun might seem to be the easiest thing in the world. We can forget how to enjoy life as we grow up. Go to a nearby park or playground and watch the kids. They live for the moment. They smile. None of them care how they look to others. Learn to be like a child. If you dance, do it like no one is watching. If you fall in love, act like you have not been hurt. Live for the moment. Have the courage to look like a fool.
Wrapping it up
There is no secret to personal growth. The path to happiness is different for everyone. The above techniques may help you. You might find your unique way. We all deserve to be happy. We should treat ourselves like we would treat a precious gem. Self-respect might not come easy. We may have to fake it until we make it. But sooner or later, we will find that we have stopped acting. We have grown.
