Many people aim to be exceptional, skilled, and successful. And it’s a fair goal: the desire to improve oneself is as natural as breathing. However, many people find it difficult to improve holistically. They may be improving their skills or financial status, but it’s also important not to neglect your personality. Below are some tips to improve yourself, not just with your skills but also in other facets.
Don’t Talk About Others’ Failures
Negativity breeds negativity, and when you allow these thoughts to fester in your mind, it’s eventually going to sit deep in there and affect your holistic approach to life. Instead of being realistic in tackling life’s situations, you might end up magnifying even the littlest unfortunate event, which in turn might impede your personal growth.
If you find yourself in a vicious cycle of negativity, reframe your mindset and consciously attempt to tackle situations in a more objective manner. Catch yourself whenever you think pessimistically and immediately think of the more realistic way to deal with whatever you are going through. Do not compare your life to others; they have their own battles, and so do you.
Not Everything Will Go Your Way
In life, we can’t expect everything to go our way. There will be moments where unplanned things will happen. You might find yourself needing a divorce lawyer after years of marriage. You might need to change careers after believing you found the right job for you. Many things are unpredictable and unforeseeable, and understanding that life is like that is important. Learn to move on and walk away if it ends up hurting you, or learn to adapt and adjust if you think you can continue.
Find One Thing to Be Good At
Some exceptional people are multiskilled and multitalented, but some only have one expertise. And that’s perfectly fine on its own. You don’t have to force yourself to be an expert in multiple fields. Be realistic and kind to yourself; find whatever you enjoy, and pursue it with passion. You don’t have to be the best; you only have to be good enough that you’re happy with it.
Start Thinking Long Term
While it’s never good to dwell on the past or worry about the future, it’s still wise to know what you want to do and where you want to be some time down the line. If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut and you think there isn’t anywhere to go, it could be because you haven’t sat down and thought about your future paths. It doesn’t have to be strictly one path that you must take; you can picture various roads to a brighter future and allow yourself some leeway to have different interests in life. But having that vision first and foremost is crucial if you want to have direction in your life.
Learn to Be Persistent and Resilient
While it’s important to learn when something is too much to handle, it’s equally important to be persistent. As mentioned before, not everything will go according to plan, but that shouldn’t deter you from trying. Learning to push on despite obstacles and challenges in your way is important because life is filled with that. Being persistent and resilient has its merits. Through consistent effort and always trying, you will eventually get to where you want to be. It’s okay to give up, yes, but put in the effort and do your best before you throw in the towel.
Cultivate a Stimulating Social Circle
Having a group of friends who push you to be a better person can put pressure on many people. However, you don’t necessarily have to adhere to this as a sort of rule and be a snob towards those who you think won’t serve a purpose in your life. We as humans tend to attract those who share the same personality traits and values, so you actually don’t need to focus on picking friends.
Instead, focus on the kind of person you want to be, and the people who share similar interests will naturally gravitate towards your circle. Once this is established, then taking care of your personal group of peers can be easy. Be respectful and inclusive, encouraging but not enabling, mature and interesting. Having good traits and doing good deeds will work to your benefit.
Everyone goes through their own self-improvement journey differently. The tips provided here are by no means comprehensive, but it’s enough to start you out. Just remember to take it one step at a time and be persistent with your journey.
