It's important to be in a constant state of self-development. To stay in one comfortable spot year in and year out only promises to keep you in a rut and unsure of your potential, so you need to flex those mind muscles and boost your self-growth game. Jumping onto the path of self-development usually takes a mindful step — the majority of us don't just pick up a new hobby or project on a total whim. Rather, you sit down and think over how investing time and effort into this foray can help you grow as a person, and take it up as an investment. And an investment it is — after coming home and being knackered out, sometimes the last thing you want to do is go to a piano lesson, pick up a yoga mat, or try a new recipe.
But that's the beauty of self-development: It needs our constant care and attention. So if you're ready to shift your life into a more mindful, constantly-developing state, or if you want to open yourself up to new experiences and ideas and see what you're capable of, start your self-growth journey right here, right now. Below are seven tips on how to boost your self-growth!
1. Surround Yourself With People Who Know More Than You
It might feel nice to be the big fish in the small pond, but if you surround yourself with only like-minded people, you don't have a real chance to grow. You won't be exposed to new ideas or experiences, and won't get the shot to be proven wrong or corrected.
Lifestyle writer David Akinwale at Lifehack explained, "If you are the smartest person in your group, then it’s time to find another group of people to hang out with. Remember, if you want to grow, you must not only be feeding people with the little knowledge you have, you also want to learn from people around you so that you don’t wear out." Find people that are constantly learning or expanding, and stick with them. Whether that's in person or through social media like Twitter or blogs, just make sure to surround yourself with people you can learn with.
2. Keep An Eye On Your Weaknesses
I know you have a ton of strengths, but your weaknesses are like fun projects you can work on to change. If you want to dabble in some self-growth but don't know where to start, this is it.
Lifestyle writer CM Smith at Lifehack suggested, "Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. This will be a great list to use while you better yourself as well as something to look back on after months and years of life changes." Are you terrible at learning languages, have the ability to burn an omlette, can't run longer than five minutes? These are all great starting points for your self growth project: Choose one, and create a game plan on how to tackle it.
3. Create Reminders On How You're Trying To Grow
When you have a project like this underneath your belt, you need a lot of momentum to keep at it. And a great way to keep that excitement and conviction going is to be mindful of it throughout your day. This isn't a project you tinker with a couple of days a week — rather, it becomes a way of life. So to help you stick with it, create reminders about it throughout your day.
CM Smith explained, "The more mindful we are of what we are trying to change in our lives, the more stock and momentum go into changing it. To become aware of what you are trying to get better at you can make small reminders throughout your day with a few reminder apps or just post a few sticky notes in certain strategic places that will remind you of the thing that you want to change." Whether that's inspirational quotes, to-do tasks in your calendar, pop up reminders to not do something during peek times (like "don't get the burger!" during dinner time if you're trying to eat healthy,) or notes of encouragement, weave your goals throughout your day.
4. Make It A Group Effort
Do you not exactly have the dough to go buy a violin and learn how to play, or buy photography lessons or cooking classes? That's OK, you can turn to your friends to teach you all of that!
Lifestyle writer Sammy Nickalls from Lifehack offered, "Your friends have all sorts of talents and knowledge that you may not possess – and you have talents of your own. Make a deal with a friend to teach each other your respective talents. It’s the most cost-efficient—and perhaps most entertaining—way to enrich your mind."
If you have a pal that's a master in the kitchen, takes stunning photos on vacations, or is a wizard with a sewing machine, ask if they could offer you lessons. It'll be fun and free!
5. Set Yourself Happiness Goals
When we think "self-growth" a lot of us think of skills we could acquire to become more well-rounded. But self-growth also has to do with our own inner happiness, and that needs to be mindfully tended to, too. In order to actively seek out happiness, try setting yourself daily goals so it doesn't get put on the back-burner.
Nickalls recommended, "Start your day by thinking about one good thing you can do for the day, whether it’s something that will make you happier or make someone else happier. Set goals for your spiritual growth." To make it more official, literally write them down on your to-do list so they get done. Whether that's buying lunch for a coworker or coming over to a friend's house and cooking them dinner after a rough day, set yourself goals that will help you become happier and more connected with the people around you.
6. Create A Space That Encourages You To Keep Trying
Another great way to keep the process of self-growth going is to create a space for yourself that encourages it. Whether it's your room, your desk, or a little corner in the house that has all your favorite books and art, decorate it with things that inspire you and that make you want to be fearless.
Lifestyle writer Celestine Chua from Lifehack offered, "Your environment sets the mood and tone for you. If you are living in an inspirational environment, you are going to be inspired every day." If you're surrounded by pictures and messages that remind you of your goals and the type of person you're trying to become, you'll feel motivated every day to keep trying. Whether that's posting up pictures of Julia Child if you're learning to cook, taping up motivational quotes, or ripping out other's success stories, do what you have to do!
7. Get Your Life Into Neat Order
A great way to keep your self-growth on track is to take time to figure out what you're growing towards. What kind of person do you want to be? Do you want to be brave and spontaneous? Do you want to be entrepreneurial and clever? Learned and bookish? What's your purpose, and where do your values and goals lie?
In order to figure that out, Chua siggested creating a life handbook that will keep all those goals in neat order and in one concentrated spot. Chua explained, "A life handbook is an idea I started three years ago. Basically, it’s a book which contains the essentials on how you can live your life to the fullest, such as your purpose, your values and goals. Sort of like your manual for your life." So take a week and figure out who you're building towards and what sorts of values you want to live your life for, and keep that in mind as you begin to develop and grow.
It won't always be easy, but it'll be an interesting, satisfying ride!
Images: @jessannkirby/Instagram
