Self-improvement is such a beautiful yet terrifying subject for many of us.
We either don’t understand self-improvement fully, or want any part of it (for whatever reason we tell ourselves). Or we don’t know how to go about it in a way that is guided and gentle where we are helping ourselves more than hurting ourselves.
Have you ever heard that ‘sometimes things have to get worse before they get better?’ Well, I don’t want to frighten you, but that’s sort of what you feel like when you enter the door to self-improvement.
But fear not — because what is on the OTHER side of that is EVERYTHING you want. Personal growth is such a natural part of our soul’s evolution, in fact, this is what we are supposed to be doing on the regular — we just haven’t woken up to the importance of it yet.
I personally feel that ‘personal growth’ gets a bad reputation because most people are afraid of it. They are fearful of the unknown and rather stay comfortable and suffering where they are.
But I promise you there is nothing to fear. The journey can be a beautiful one if you allow it to be.
And GUESS WHAT!
Self-improvement gets to have the meaning that YOU give it.
Everything is neutral until we put our thoughts and beliefs into it; until we give it it’s meaning. Then that subject becomes good, bad, scary, (whatever meaning you gave it).
This is an excellent opportunity to challenge your beliefs! What do you currently believe about that subject? How do you feel about it?
<
When you learn to challenge your thoughts and beliefs, you begin to unravel yourself in not only figuring out WHY you believe what you believe- but you also start to unveil the real you and how you want your life to play out for you and based on what you WANT rather than what you have been taught while being raised in whatever society you come from.
So here are my five steps to embracing personal growth:
1. Self-Awareness is Key:
You need to become aware of where you currently stand with yourself and your life.
Part I: Figure out your current feelings
In order to become aware of where you want to go- you must first figure out where you currently are!
What is calling your attention? What are you dealing with (or avoiding) that is causing you stress and WHY?
- First, ask yourself how you feel about this.
- Then, examine the thoughts that you are thinking and the actions that you are taking to support this [current] feeling.
- Finally, declare that you are ready to drop and let go of these thoughts/beliefs because they are NO LONGER serving you.
Once you’ve done this, you’re ready for…
PART II: How do you WANT to feel?
After you’ve acknowledged your current beliefs and thoughts, you’re ready for the next step, which is to figure out HOW you want to feel instead:
- How do you want to feel about this subject? It really helps to go general in this case, then you can work your way to the specifics.
- What thoughts/beliefs do you need to adopt to support these new feelings? Remember that your thoughts AFFECT your mood and emotions. So be VERY picky about what you want.
- What actions can you drop? And what can you adopt instead of supporting your new beliefs?
Once you’ve done these steps, you’re ready for the real thing, which is to…
2. Show up for yourself:
You’ve done the digging and the searching, and now it’s time to walk the walk!
WHY do you want it so bad? And why do you deserve to get it and feel the way that you want to feel?
Your WHY is important. It’ll be the reason WHY you keep coming back to this.
Change doesn’t happen until YOU do.
Come back every single day and acknowledge your new feelings and beliefs about the subject and practice feeling your desired emotion every single day — especially when you are getting tripped up and have weak moments of going back to your old self.
Remember — this is sort of like rebirthing because you’re updating a new ‘you’ — it takes work and consistency.
If you’re having trouble maintaining this part- then go back to your WHY and re-convince yourself WHY you want and deserve this, and you’ll be well on your way.
You’ll most likely get tripped up along the way, but fear not!
3. Trust and enjoy your self-improvement journey:
Do you trust that you’ll receive what you’re after? If not, then I encourage you to challenge your beliefs and thoughts about it- remember: it can all be changed according to how YOU want it to play out for you. So be honest with yourself. And if you have to dig a little further- so be it, you put in what you want out of it. That’s why it’s called a journey after all 🙂
Learning to ENJOY the journey can be very easy and doable if you are conscious about it.
What do you need to do to enjoy this journey? And what do you need to do to stay consistent with it? Prioritize your self-improvement, and it will come back to you tenfold.
I find that to enjoy my journey, it helps me to practice gratitude along the way. And don’t forget to acknowledge how far you too have come in your journey.
Learn to be grateful for all the miracles and positivity that is coming your way — if the Universe knows you are acknowledging that- it will only keep giving you more. You won’t know this unless you practice it- so be conscious of it!
On that note…
4. Expect miracles:
If you learn to trust and enjoy the journey, then KNOW that the miracles will come. And if you don’t see any, then, again, ask yourself questions about it. For example, what does this mean to me? Do I even believe that I can receive it? What would it take to believe it? etc., Then OPEN your eyes!
The Universe has your back — but you know that already. Of course, that’s easier said than done also…
…so come back daily to acknowledge these thoughts and practice feeling them. Eventually, your mind will adopt these thoughts and feelings. Remember, consistency is critical.
5. Remain open-minded to all possibilities:
You never know what the Universe will bring you — but if you’re only “open and accepting” of this or that, …then you won’t be in the receptive mode of anything.
That’s not how it works. You are either open-minded to everything and anything for the highest good of yourself, or you closed to it all. Trust that the universe has your back and that all will work out!
The universe has its own mind of bringing magic into our lives. We can’t be picky about our route, we can only be open about it and trust it. Remaining consciously aware and grateful for it will help yield the results you’re looking for even faster, but you have to stay patient and understanding despite it all.
Conclusion:
Self-improvement is whatever meaning you give it. So before you dive into changing your life- begin with your foundation and ensuring that you are giving the subject you’re working on a meaning that you resonate with and feel comfortable and positive about. A positive perspective will propel you forward, a negative one will hold you back for decades if you allow it.
This journey is as complicated or as easy as you want to make it — try not to overthink it. Remember, when in doubt: go general with your thoughts and feelings. I want to feel “positivity, clarity, etc.,” as opposed to ‘(negative emotion)’ because of (a specific situation). Take out the because. Then choose the opposite word or one that resonates with your soul the most.
Personal growth is a beautiful thing. And it opens up doors and pathways that you couldn’t even imagine if you tried. If you’re willing to take the journey by the handle and walk open-mindedly and positively, then you’ve figured it out.
Everything works out the way it should ALWAYS. Believe that and you will be good for the rest of your life.
My favorite books about making the most out of the personal growth journey:
The Universe Has a Plan: The 10 Golden Rules of Letting Go by Matt Kahn
The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith
You may also enjoy:
