Become Your Best YOU: 18 Personal Development Tips
Short version: This is basically a list of things I try to remind myself to do frequently. Some of it is on my vision map!
Long version:
One of the most important decisions you can make is to actively commit to developing YOU. In the ways that mean something to you.
There are, however, a few things that we all tend to want, in one way or another: a better quality of life, achieving goals, and all-around being the best version of ourselves for us, and for those around us.
What we don’t typically learn in school or work is that just like anything else, is that you can only improve upon yourself if you set real goals. Even those that feel fluffy.
I’ve tried to compile a list of personal development goals that can hopefully relate to each of you and your own goals.
These 18 tips are meant to serve as a loose guide as you continue, or start, your path to feeling more fulfilled, more happy & more confident with who you are in your own skin, and who you may aspire to become.
Empathy. the ability to not be an asshole and think about other peoples’ feelings.
Self-Confidence. think highly & strongly of yourself, your capabilities, and your aspirations. OWN IT ALL.
Really Listen & Listen to Understand. be quiet. listen to what people are telling you, note their body language & social cues. read between the lines. have they repeated something? that means it’s probably important. are they emotional? WAIT, listen, and then respond.
Think about body language. this is everything your body is doing except for speaking. open up, loosen your muscles, don’t hold tension in your shoulders & your face, smile, do the good stuff that makes others feel like they can trust you and your confidence.
Be friendly. don’t be fake, be friendly. give others the benefit of the doubt, always. be relatable, kind, and show care. it goes a long way.
Love who you are. if you can’t start doing this, it’s going to be difficult for you to build relationships with others. love your imperfections because they’re what makes you, you. the more you ground yourself in accepting who you are, the more happy and carefree you’ll become.
Just stop procrastinating. procrastinating is not a gene passed down through your mom’s crazy aunt. this is a habit you need to break. instill willpower in yourself and set goals that are bite-size to start. stick to them, and see how you do after 2 weeks. boom - the crazy aunt gene will start to disappear
Get up earlier. sometimes, we all need to sleep in. sometimes i do this even when it’s just snowy out for no reason. but generally speaking, wake up early. do things that make you happy or feel productive. throw in a load of laundry, read for 15 minutes, make a to-do list, prepare breakfast & make coffee, watch the sun come up
Learn to be more proactive. get ahead of things on the docket. don’t wait till crunch time. be more prepared for the outcome and don’t rely on others to determine what will happen
Think of conflicts as potential solutions. this is two-fold; a mix of attitude adjustment & learning to admire conflict resolution. conflict will literally be a part of your life, forever, in every area. get used to it - and embrace it. look at a conflict as a temporary situation that gives you the opportunity to figure out a resolution. glass half full + empathy
Read. take advantage of the seemingly never-ending amount of resources we have available to us. books, websites, you name it. it’s highly likely that every time you read something, there will be an opportunity to learn a new tidbit of info, a new interest, a new something. read for sharpening your communication skills, for knowledge & everything in-between
Embrace resilience. deal with shit and move on (kindly). understand that it only makes you stronger
Truly manage stress well. there is literally no point in getting worked up over anything. at least not for too long. my favorite thing to ask people when they’re stressed is to tell me what they were stressed about on this exact day 1 month ago. case in point
Forget any & all imaginary limitations. you’ve probably heard of limiting beliefs. rid yourself of these bad boys. they are basically the result of you hanging onto this false narrative in your head about anything from family life, relationships, $, etc. that restrict you from reaching your goals. acknowledge them & that they exist, and then get to why. after that, let them go, and get moving
Mentor. teach others, spend time sharing your thoughts, skills & opinions. you will help people on their own journeys, while learning about yourself along the way. while you’re at it, seek out a mentor. they’re extremely awesome
Practice mindfulness. do this. be present. i’m blessed to belong to a gym that’s brought me the gift of a coach and dear friend named Jessica. she is the epitome of being present & mindful & living kindly in the moment - everyone should be like her
Make choices that make you happy. consciously say yes or no and understand why you’re selecting either - about everything in life. is saying yes to something making you happy or helping you reach a goal? no? then why are you doing it
Change whatever mindset you have to one that is a growth mindset. get yourself to this space. understand & embrace vulnerability. know that you have a shit ton of things to learn while appreciating what you’ve accomplished. it’ll get your further in the end :)
XO,
Renee
