This is Tip #3 of a 5-part series on how to lead a happier and more fulfilling life:
- Tip 1: Treat Your Body With Respect
- Tip 2: Random Acts of Kindness
- Tip 3: [You Are Here] – Take Baby Steps to Improve Yourself
- Tip 4: Choose to be Happy – Happiness is a Choice
- Tip 5: Live Life to the Fullest
So far, we have looked at how treating your body with respect can improve your well-being, and how doing random acts of kindness for others can help you feel appreciated by others, and give you a sense of pride in your everyday life. Today, we can look at improving ourselves.
What Are You Looking For?
In order to make improvements and change to our lives, it is useful to identify what it is we are working towards. What is it you want from life? What would you like to achieve?
Consider a person you admire and look up to in life. What attributes do they possess to make you respect them? You can have these characteristics too. Make them one of your goals. What do you need to do to become closer to who you would like to be?
I think it is always healthy to make a list of all the qualities you feel you possess as a person, and be thankful that you are lucky enough to have these. Give yourself the credit and respect you deserve in order to make your improvements more accurate and effective. It is our human nature to identify flaws and point out negatives, however all too often it is these on which we focus. Focusing on negativities will only bring you down, and sometimes even mask the pathway forward.
Improving yourself is about growing as a person and becoming someone who you are happy to be. It is a conscious decision that needs you to be proactive. Soon, you will realise that your ability to grow as a person is excitingly limitless. You can choose to take up that instrument you’ve wanted to play for years but “never found the time”, you can learn a new language, or simply be kinder to your fellow neighbours.
Forgiveness
Forgive yourself for the past. It will only prevent you from moving forward. We are only human, and we all make mistakes. The only thing we can take from these mistakes is the ability to do it differently next time. You are giving yourself another chance by making the decision to improve.
Quite often, our past can cloud our judgement on deciding the path to move forward. Starting a journal is a personal way to reflect honestly upon yourself. It is a wonderful way of depositing the emotions that can get in the way of productive steps to move forward each day.
Mind, Body And Soul
Three things make up the beautiful person you are – mind, body and soul. How can you make improvements to each aspect of your being, in order to become a more well rounded person?
Your mind is limitless, as long as you allow it to be. You can develop your mind and broaden your views on a daily basis. Keep your brain active and sharp by playing strategy games such as chess. Why not make it your aim to find a new fact out each day, learn a bit about it and broaden your knowledge?
Improving your body can be as simple as drinking lemon water as discussed in Day 2, increasing your vegetable intake, or undertaking a new exercise regime. Improving the way your body looks and feels will help you in your bid to become a happier you.
So how do you improve your soul? I believe the soul is your innermost beauty; it makes you a unique and valuable human being. It is your morals, your charisma and your individuality. If you work too much, take some time off to remember who you are. Do something you would consider crazy, even if it’s running outside in the rain. Test the constraints you put on your own life.
We can all recognise areas we can improve ourselves. Do one thing a day, and realise that you are on the path to becoming a more focused and happier you.
My Top 5 Ways To Improve Yourself:
1. Pick up a book
Take the time to indulge in some reading. Pick a non-fiction book and see what facts you could learn. Challenge your mind and keep it sharp.
Find Out the Benefits of Reading
2. Be kinder to people
We all like it when people are nice to us, so try being kinder to the people you meet on a daily basis. It will make you feel like a better person, and it will enhance peoples perception of you.
3. Give up a bad habit
We all have those classic “bad habits”, whether its nail biting or the repetitive use of a word. Identify your bad habits and make a conscious effort to stop doing it. Get others around you to tell you if you’ve done it as a lot of habits can actually go un-noticed by ourselves.
4. Choose a hobby or skill
What are your interests? What do you enjoy doing? Pick a sport or an activity and make active steps to get better at it. Join a club, take some guidance, improve your ability.
Never be Boring Again – Here are 12 Hobbies You Can Adopt Today
5. Challenge your fears
Fear keeps us from growing as people. Challenge your fears – do something that your scared of. You can get that spider out of the bath! You will feel proud of yourself, and you will ultimately be more capable than before. Get out of the confinements of your comfort zone and feel liberated.