We are a week into the New Year and things have been interesting to say the least. Political unrest and the COVID19 pandemic have flooded the news outlets. I know many people were hoping that this new year would usher in sudden changes. Unfortunately, it appears that those changes will happen gradually.
Many people don’t like waiting. I sure don’t. I’m not a very patient person. But there is beauty in patience. When we are in a season of waiting, it can be an opportunity for personal growth. Of course, personal growth is your choice and only your choice. No one can make you change and grow. Only you can do that. But if you make the choice to use this season to improve yourself, you’ll reap so many positive rewards. Personal growth is the process of improving yourself. It takes time and commitment. Real, lasting growth does not happen overnight. It includes examining areas in your life that need improvement, setting realistic goals, and beginning the process of making these changes. Personal growth is incredibly good for our mental health. A prime opportunity to stop and reflect is in those times when we face obstacles or challenges. 2020 was a challenging year. It seems the first bit of 2021 is no different.
Here are some ways you can begin your journey of personal growth:
- Self-awareness—self-awareness is key. If you aren’t aware of your thoughts and feelings, or aren’t aware of areas where you could improve, you won’t take steps to grow those areas. The three main areas of self-awareness are: physical, mental, and emotional. Being able to recognize where you struggle will help you plan for change. You can quite literally sit down and write out a list.
For example, if you struggle with negative thinking, that may be one place you want to grow this year. Perhaps you are a glass half empty person, or a worse case scenario thinker. If you recognize this you can begin the process of growing a healthier thought life.
- Create goals—once you are aware in which areas you can improve, set goals. What is it you want to achieve? And are your goals realistic and attainable? With the above example, it would be unrealistic to expect to never have a negative thought. So if your goal is “I will only think positive thoughts” you will fail. Set realistic, achievable goals.
- Action plan—now that you’ve identified areas you’d like to improve, and set realistic goals, it’s time to make an action plan. An action plan is something you can come up with on your own. Again, this action plan should be steps you can accomplish over a reasonable amount of time. If you are struggling with creating an action plan, there are trained professionals (therapist and life coaches) who can help you with this.
- Avoid comparisons—one way to ensure that you will not achieve your goals is by comparing yourself to others. Particularly those on social media. Remember what you see on social media is only what people want you to see. When we compare ourselves to others, we tend to compare the worst things about us. You can see how this could easily derail our self-growth. This is when self-awareness is important. Self-awareness can help you know if you are engaging in comparison. Then, if you are, try to stop
No one likes obstacles. And especially following the year we’ve just had. But when we can see these obstacles are an opportunity to grow, we can begin the process of personal growth. Personal growth helps us become the best, possible version of ourselves. And what better way to go into this new year but with us working to be our absolute best selves.
To Health, Hope, and Healing
Krista