In order to better yourself as a person, it is crucial to continuously work on improving yourself.
Growth, specifically personal growth, is an important part of life. The meaning of personal growth is subjective, but it is often defined as the development of your skills, wisdom, and character. Bettering yourself will transition into other areas of your life, including academic, social, or career.
When I think about personal growth, I refer back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. For those who don’t know, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs describes the motivation behind our actions and needs. It’s often displayed as a pyramid, depicting the most basic human needs or more complex needs. To use the pyramid as a guideline, decide where you are on the pyramid and make your way up to help achieve personal growth.
While personal growth is different for everyone, here are some tips for practicing self-growth and improving yourself in person.
- Learning from others
One way to develop personal growth is to learn from others; the people around you can teach you lessons about life and even yourself. If there are people in your life who have traits or a lifestyle that you admire, ask them how they started these things. The people around you are always filled with life advice or experience, so ask them for assistance.
- Self-reflection
One of the most important parts of growth is getting to know yourself. Now is the time to sit and do some self-reflection. Ask yourself different questions about yourself and really delve into the answers. What are your values? What do you hope to achieve in life? How would you like to reach your goals? Getting to know yourself will help you understand what you envision your life will look like going forward.
- Push boundaries
Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone and accept change, the only way to achieve growth is to acknowledge that it is okay to be uncomfortable. Make sure to try new things, especially experiences that scare you.
Like many people, I felt scared and uncomfortable when I first arrived at college. However, I adjusted to college by talking to new people and experiencing new things and learning more about myself and my interests, which allowed me to change as a person.
Personal growth is completely achievable with the right steps. Remember to continue to grow and work on yourself, it’ll benefit you and your goals.