Saturday, April 20, 2013

The First Steps On Your Self Help Journey

By Carla Rossouw


Positive thinking can help you improve on your self and it will have a more positive impact on your lifestyle. The following advice can help you to improve yourself, and by extension every area of your life.

Your unique and individual values can help to mold a productive personal development plan. These are the areas that will have greater impact on your development instead of conflicting value areas. Focus on positive aspects to improve. These aspects should mesh with your values. This enables you to make lasting changes in your life, both in a personal and a professional capacity.

Exercising, and taking care of your physical self are important aspects of the personal development process. Getting enough sleep, having a healthy diet, and exercising regularly are simple activities that keep energy high, and it gives you a better chance at being successful with your personal development. It may seem simple, but sometimes the simplest things in life are actually the most difficult.

Create a written pep talk for yourself. Write a list of each of your good points and attributes on an index card. Put this list up on a wall, or carry it with you. Better yet, videotape yourself reading it aloud and view the video frequently. How will this help with your personal development?

Personal development should begin with your health. It takes motivation to maintain a healthy lifestyle, both through diet and exercise. The better health you are in, the easier it will be to accomplish your goals in other areas.

Don't waste too much money on comfort items. Spend your time on more productive and useful pursuits. Clean the house, play an instrument or take up a sport. This will reduce stress, save you money and turn you into a more interesting, well-rounded person.

Learn the habits that successful people practice, and build them into your own life. Pick two or three simple habits and focus on them until they are second nature. New habits are developed over approximately twenty-one days so a little patience will go a long way when you are improving your habits.

Good leaders have firm rules, but are also honest. A key factor of leadership is the ability to serve oneself to others, and to be firm while also being gentle. A leader should also make values and integrity his or her priority and focus on the well-being of the members of the team.

Picture how your life is right now and where you want it to be in the future. See your shortcomings. Understanding this is essential for beginning your quest for getting where you would like to be. If you are unwilling to make this commitment, you are unlikely to reach your full potential.

Keep notes on how you progress by being more organized. When you can break down your goals, it becomes much easier to achieve them. Use a daily planner to track your progress, or write down your goals and successes in a journal or diary.

When you are angered by something, take the time to take a breath and count up to ten before you react. Another technique is to breathe deeply and imagine a peaceful place. If you take steps to preserve your calm, you will be able to express yourself clearly, without being confrontational or hurtful.

You can't please all of the people, and there's no use in trying. Please yourself first! This doesn't mean that you should only think of yourself, especially if it hurts others, but you often have to put yourself first or no one else will. Whatever you do, make sure you follow your own values. The more you are a person who you like and respect, the happier you'll be.

Go to the movies with a friend. This is a good way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. You can be social with your friend before and after the movie and will have to be around strangers, but you won't have to be overly social and can recharge during the movie. It can also be an effective way for you to become more comfortable with being near a large group of people.

Several people have difficulty meeting someone worthwhile to date. Use the net to jump start your search. Almost half of all couples meet online. You may find one that is looking for someone like you. Free sites have advantages and disadvantages, but so do paid dating sites.

Treat all people with respect and kindness. How you treat them reveals more about your own character, than it reveals about theirs.

If you notice yourself struggling with the blues, try increasing the amount of complex carbs in your diet. Complex carbohydrates are essential to producing serotonin, which helps to lift your mood. Increase complex carbs through nuts, whole rice, beans and fruits.

As you can see, personal development is simpler than it looks. By breaking your personal development process into small, manageable goals, you'll find yourself closer to your goals by the end of every day. You'll be able to practice what you're seeking to adopt as habit, and you'll increase your own morale to continue. These tips are only a springboard, it's up to you to build a better life.




About the Author:



No comments: