Many psychologists consider the process of self-improvement as the goal and basis of an individual’s life. This is due to the fact that a person has to work on himself throughout his life. Let's take a closer look at where to start self-improvement, what network of ways and methods for implementing the process and technique. Do you need a plan or program for self-improvement?
Self-improvement where to start
The need for self-improvement, to realize one’s potential, serves as the main motivating factor for starting to work on oneself. By and large, this process occurs automatically as one grows older and develops a personality. First, in kindergarten, we are taught basic rules of behavior and basic knowledge and skills are laid. Then we improve them at school, university or vocational school. Having started work, we master new techniques and technologies related to our specialization. In addition, we are constantly in society, therefore we acquire skills in communicating with people, influencing them, manipulating, learning to resolve conflict situations, etc. That is, every day the process of development “automatically” occurs. The ability to self-improvement is determined by environmental conditions. Of course, if we assume that a person performs the same actions day after day, then the development process stops. But it is probably impossible to create such conditions; one way or another, we are faced with something new every day. Even the flow of information from outside is the engine of progress. But all this is uncontrolled, natural self-improvement. Is it possible to set a vector while working on yourself? Self-development and self-improvement where to start? First of all, it is important to determine your goals, that is, the result you want to achieve: become a professional in your field, learn to draw, speak in front of a large audience, etc. To achieve the goals, you can use various methods, techniques, methods.
Self-development: checklist for every day
The best way to keep track of your progress is to keep checklists. How to compose them so as not to abandon them?
2 ways to create a checklist for self-development:
Method 1. Habit tracker for one area of the month.
To start, create a tracker for 14 days, so that after 2 weeks you can adjust your goals and habits. Write down 5-6 main tasks for development in a certain area.
For example, if you want to develop financial literacy, add the following daily habits to your tracker:
- 50 rubles into your savings account every day.
- 1 lesson of the course on financial literacy.
- Calculating expenses at the end of the day.
- Checking stock/bond/currency prices in your brokerage account (if available).
Method 2. Tracker of habits that will help you restore balance and have a positive effect on your performance and mood.
Remember: you shouldn’t fill the tracker with a hundred habits for the sake of imaginary productivity. Get a deep understanding of what goals you are striving for and what daily actions will help you achieve them.
How long does it take to acquire a habit? Officially - 21 days. But during this time, the habit simply appears: then it needs to be consolidated, and this will take at least 3 months. Alas, human physiology is such that if you are interrupted, you will have to start all over again.
The results will be better, and you will feel responsible and are unlikely to go astray if you set up a challenge with other people. The best option is a coach or specialist: he will definitely be able to bring you to the result and will guide you if you take a wrong turn.
If your budget is still limited, try organizing a challenge with friends: come up with clear conditions, deadlines and punishment for failure to complete tasks. There can be an infinite number of challenge options: “250,000 steps in a month”, “1 book a week”, “daily exercise on Instagram Stories” - choose to your taste!
Ways of self-improvement
The path to personal self-improvement goes through three main processes: • self-knowledge; • self-development; • self-realization. Each of them is a stage that smoothly passes into the next.
That is, as we see, it all starts with self-knowledge - studying yourself, your positive and negative qualities, strengths and weaknesses. In addition, it is important to analyze your abilities and talents, which may not be realized to any extent at the moment. The conclusions obtained will be required to form the process of self-development, develop a plan and algorithm for further actions in working on oneself. First of all, it is necessary to eradicate the shortcomings that prevent the development of positive qualities and new skills. To achieve your goals, you will need to create a specialized step-by-step algorithm of actions. At the third stage, self-realization becomes an essential factor in self-improvement. You finally realize your capabilities, which need to be put into practice and brought to life. But without going through the previous two stages, the process of realizing your potential is not possible.
Professional strain and burnout as a side effect
Professional development of an individual as a process is not always stable and can also be of a descending nature. It can be negatively affected by such phenomena as professional deformation or mental burnout.
Professional deformation refers to personality changes that are caused by a person’s professional activities. As a rule, they are persistent and extend to all aspects of the physical and mental organization of a person. Basically, professional deformation is viewed in a negative light - as a phenomenon that makes it difficult for a person to communicate with others and even reduces the efficiency of his work.
Occupational deformities
The mechanism of occurrence of professional deformation has quite complex dynamics; negative changes begin to slowly but surely take hold both in professional and in everyday activities. At first these are only temporary negative mental states, then they begin to crowd out positive qualities. Negative qualities completely replace positive ones, the personality seems to be built anew, distorted, deformed.
Professional deformation affects different aspects of the personality: motivational, cognitive, emotional. As a result, a person may develop specific attitudes and ideas. In addition, even new personality traits often arise. Let’s say that if the deformation manifests itself in the motivational sphere, a person becomes incredibly passionate about his profession to the detriment of other areas of his life.
If the cognitive sphere is affected by deformation, this is often the result of a very narrow specialization in any area of the profession. In this case, a person is interested only in those issues that can help him in his work, take him to a new professional level, and make it easier to complete tasks. At the same time, he may know absolutely nothing about what is beyond the scope of his professional competencies.
Ways of personal self-improvement
In the process of working on yourself, you can choose those methods of self-improvement that are more accessible and, most importantly, suitable for realizing your goals. One of the most effective for most tasks is reading as a way of self-improvement. The main share of all acquired knowledge comes from this source of information acquisition. Regardless of what is your priority in the near future, reading will allow you to gain knowledge that you can put into practice in the future.
There are other ways of self-development and self-improvement: • studying or improving already acquired knowledge of a foreign language (on your own, with a tutor, seminars, courses, webinars, etc.); • travel is a source of new knowledge, impressions, positive emotions; • self-education - accustom yourself to a correct and healthy lifestyle, to a rational and balanced diet, to a harmonious rhythm of wakefulness and rest; • eliminating bad habits and “parasite activities”, eradicating laziness and procrastination; • playing sports is a good way to throw out negative emotions and maintain health; sports are a possible source of self-improvement for every person; • visualization of your goals and dreams. Choose methods that are suitable for you, include them in an individual program of self-improvement and development.
What you can do for self-development: skills
- Meditation. This is the practice of contemplation, which occurs through concentration of attention on a specific subject. It is a fairly simple and at the same time difficult skill for many individuals. But it is not the action that is of interest, but its result: the person becomes calmer, the degree of awareness increases, and a deep knowledge of oneself and the events taking place around occurs.
- Time management. This is about organizing time and increasing productivity. It's easy to waste your day if you don't have a clear plan on how to effectively complete your tasks. The process will help improve punctuality and professionalism.
- Clothing style. Good taste in appearance ensures that the first impression when meeting people will be excellent. This is necessary to find a partner for a love relationship, meetings with a future employer or clients.
- Optimism. Positive thoughts and a view of reality are a huge source of internal energy. This is where you need to start, but how to educate yourself is a secondary question.
- Healthy eating. Eating healthy food will improve your well-being and give you strength. There is no need to go on a strict diet. Just include vegetables and fruits in your diet and try to eat less junk food.
- Reading books. Literature is a storehouse of knowledge that you can absorb if you devote enough time to the lesson.
- Ignoring toxic people. We are strongly influenced by our environment. Wherever we are, there will always be negative people who generously share their negativity. This makes you give up, so try to limit communication with such acquaintances.
Self-improvement methods
Methods of personal self-improvement are: • various areas of self-development; • spiritual practices; • well-developed methods of influence, including hypnosis, self-hypnosis, etc.; • processes of self-analysis; • planning; • self-control; • self-education. Which methods to use is a choice for each individual. You can use already proven methods or develop your own, depending on the direction of improvement and your priorities. The main thing is not to make a mistake in selecting tools, so that the work process does not turn into a boring routine, delaying the results. You should not use meditation if you do not believe in it or do not know how to perform it correctly.
The best option is to combine several methods, such as planning and self-control, spiritual practices and self-education. It is possible that in order to achieve each specific goal, you will need to apply individual methods of self-improvement and develop specific strategies.
Favorite activity as motivation for self-development
The best motivation for professional self-development is doing what you love. Only in what brings pleasure and joy can you get incredible results. When the goal ignites, a person does not feel any obstacles, and fears seem to fade into the background.
Imagine a person who loves sports. Not because you can make a lot of money in it. He is ready to do it because he likes the process. In this case, success is inevitable.
When a person truly does what he loves, he receives inner satisfaction and a feeling of happiness.
So, any kind of hobby can be turned into a life’s work.
Self-development motivation is a strong character trait. Often we lose incentive and stop. But over time, it becomes clear that the successes achieved in the past are not the limit. You need to constantly improve yourself, because this process is endless. And my favorite thing on this path is a wonderful companion, engine and assistant.
Self-improvement strategies
Self-improvement strategies are divided into types: • standard; • copyright. Standard strategies include clearly defined norms, tasks, exercises, and techniques. The algorithm of actions is already predetermined and planned, which simplifies its application. This is due to the fact that the theoretical and practical parts have already been tested, errors and possible consequences have been identified. Take it and act! The author's methods are unique and cause a lot of disagreement among both specialists and users. But they are worked out for each person individually. The choice of strategy is determined by a number of factors: • the set objectives of the chosen direction of development (for example, for losing weight, a strategy of physical self-improvement is suitable, for career implementation - professional, for affirming philosophical beliefs - spiritual development); • the result of self-analysis, that is, identified positive and negative qualities, priorities, areas of self-improvement, etc. • studying the types of strategies to consider the possibility of adapting them to your needs; • opportunities for self-control and tracking the results of the work done. When choosing the right option, you can make adjustments according to your resources, needs and desires. Some people need training 5-6 times a week for several hours, while others need 2-3 sessions. Do not forget about self-education as the main form of self-improvement.
Personal development: what is it?
We are talking about the harmonious development of all character traits, because this is the only way to achieve a positive result. If a person’s talents are concentrated at the level of the body, he belongs to subject specialists, at the level of the soul - to associationists. When it comes to concentrating abilities at the level of the spirit, he can safely be classified as a representative of metaphorists.
Karina Weingard's courses provide an opportunity to understand what level of development an individual is at and draw a conclusion about how further personal self-improvement will occur. For example, if a person is a subject specialist, is it worth striving to ultimately become a non-ideal associationist? Perhaps it is more logical to achieve harmony at the level at which you are initially?
When we begin to understand ourselves, we do not give up our own self, but learn about our capabilities, and our strengths always outweigh our weaknesses.
Thanks to this, you can achieve true perfection, stop focusing on little things and start giving yourself to the world! Share the news on Social Networks:
Self-improvement techniques
Having decided on the methods and strategy for self-improvement, all that remains is to select the appropriate techniques: • mnemonics – aimed at developing memory and accompanying thought processes;
• visualization of the past – to eliminate blocks, fears, mistakes that interfere with the implementation of assigned tasks; • neurolinguistic programming (NLP) - independently agree with yourself to carry out some activities, even if not very pleasant ones, in order to overcome some negative qualities, for example, laziness;
• neurobics – the use of special exercises for the brain;
• art therapy – drawing with the aim of reflecting and destroying negativity, in some cases, mental healing;
• coaching – achieving set goals under the guidance of a “coach”;
• Hellinger constellations – a method for solving problems that arise in various areas of life;
• Socionics – the study of personality types and the relationships between them.
Again, a certain technique is suitable for everyone, which will help speed up the process and completion of tasks to unlock your own potential.
Develop your body
Do some strength exercises daily
At the gym, don't spend all your time on the treadmill or elliptical machine. Do strength exercises too. With dumbbells, barbell or body weight. Start with regular squats.
Replace unhealthy foods with your favorite fruits and vegetables
Well, yes, it sounds boring. And again blah blah blah... But this advice does not lose its relevance. With food we can harm or benefit the body. Instead of a bag of chips, eat a fruit or vegetable that you like. Should there be such things?
Try group classes
A cheerful instructor and like-minded people are often a great motivator for classes. Invite a friend to practice with you. Perhaps you both need some friendly kicks to get to workouts regularly.
Drink water
Still, nothing quenches thirst as perfectly as water. Don't stop drinking when you feel thirsty. Carry water with you so as not to buy at exorbitant prices and not be tempted by sweet sodas.
Self-improvement tasks
We found out what is necessary for self-improvement: • defining goals in accordance with priorities; • choosing a strategy in accordance with the direction of self-improvement; • applying suitable methods and techniques to work on yourself. All this together should be aimed at completing tasks that contribute to the acquisition of new knowledge and the development of skills: • read every day, a certain period of time or a planned amount of text; • visit museums, galleries, theaters, exhibitions; • take part in thematic discussions in groups, forums, seminars, etc.; • analyze the past every day, draw conclusions and let go of accumulated negativity; • watch your speech, try to construct sentences correctly, do not use filler words; • refrain from making critical statements about others; • try to always think positively; • get rid of the old, update your wardrobe, make repairs or simply rearrange; • master new technologies, not only in the IT field, but also in everyday life; • move more, play sports; • expand your horizons. Even by changing the trajectory of your journey home today, you have laid the foundation for a new neural connection in the brain, remember this.
Cultivate True Happiness
Praise others
It's very cool to make someone happy, especially someone you care about. Besides, happiness is contagious. Express your gratitude to those around you. People need to know when they are good at something, and it will give you a boost of good humor.
Smile
Seriously! Smiling has many benefits. For example, you release endorphins, which make you happier. Even if you force a smile, you will begin to feel better. The next time you feel overwhelmed by negative emotions, control them with a smile.
Better yet, laugh
Remember how good you feel after having a good laugh. This is all because of the same endorphins. Make it a goal to laugh at least once a day. How? Read something funny or watch an episode of your favorite comedy series.
Surround yourself with people you feel good with
Think about how you feel when interacting with the people who constantly surround you. Are there those among them who drain you, who constantly bring negative emotions? Are there those who sabotage your efforts to improve yourself, who drag you down? You cannot be truly happy if you are surrounded by negative people. Try to spend time with people who encourage your efforts and inspire you. You deserve it.
Individual program of self-improvement and development
How the process of working on oneself should ultimately occur is fully reflected in the self-improvement program. It includes the following stages of self-improvement: 1. The first stage of self-improvement is the definition of the ideal self, that is, the definition of what you are striving for, what you want to achieve. 2. The second stage is the “I-today” analysis. This process involves an objective assessment of the real self, with all its positive and negative aspects. 3. The third stage is determining directions for self-improvement. 4. Based on the previous three points, plan a step-by-step algorithm of actions, taking into account your resources and capabilities. 5. Move from theory to practice - start implementing all the actions today! 6. Get rid of a toxic environment, look for those who will support your endeavors. 7. Record results, analyze successes and failures. Don’t try to imitate someone or completely repeat someone’s success, strategy, methodology, become an example for those who are just embarking on the path of self-improvement.
Methods for diagnosing motivation for self-development
Psychology has developed dozens of techniques with which you can test your level of motivation and self-regulation. This information will help you learn more about yourself, as well as outline ways for further internal changes.
The names of the methods are presented below:
1. Social and psychological attitudes of the individual (Potemkina)
2. Terminal Values Questionnaire, OTeC
3. Morphological test of life values, MTLC
4. Affiliation Motives Test, MAFF (Mehrabian)
5. Achievement Motivation Test, TMD/MATS (Mehrabian)
6. Assessing the level of aspirations (Gerbachevsky)
7. Motivation for success and fear of failure, MUN
Self Improvement Plan
When creating step-by-step instructions, take into account a number of important nuances: 1. Planning work on self-improvement must necessarily take place in accordance with the chosen areas of development. 2. The algorithm of actions should reflect both short-term and long-term goals, the former will become an incentive for the latter. 3. When drawing up a plan, take into account the deadlines and mark the results of self-improvement. 4. Develop a project based on your capabilities and resources. For example, if you cannot afford to go to the gym and work out individually with a trainer, this can be done at home by choosing a suitable video on the Internet or using applications that outline training programs. 5. Calculate your strength; the degree of activity is not always the same. 6. Follow all the points of the plan, trying not to miss planned activities. 7. Pay special attention to daily rituals aimed at developing self-discipline, self-control and self-education. 8. Include different techniques and methods of improvement in your plan.
Our whole life is a process of working on ourselves, our own development and improvement. We can let everything take its course, or we can set the right direction for our activities and achieve success in all significant areas of life, and therefore become happy, live in harmony with ourselves and with the world around us. There is no limit to self-improvement!
Stages
- Self-knowledge. A person must have a clear idea of his own life priorities and ideals that force him to move forward.
- Setting goals. They can be long-term or short-term, but must be flexible and not contradictory.
- Achievement options. Self-improvement is a rather personal process. Articles for self-development will not give precise advice on how to obtain the desired result. You can look for the answer in smart books, rely on fate, or sit down and think carefully about how to get what you want.
- Actions. Dreams will remain so if you don’t put effort into them. By taking just one step, you are already closer to what you want.
How can you decide to make drastic changes in your life?
If a person has made a firm decision to change his life, then he must understand and realize that it will no longer be the same. Self-development and self-knowledge will help you find strength in yourself, reveal your potential and a lot of hidden talents and abilities. Thanks to these “discoveries,” it will be much easier to let go of the past, take the first serious step towards a new, better life, overcome your fears and learn to appreciate and love yourself.
When a person is faced with a choice, he is always plagued by doubts about the correctness of the decision made. And, what’s most interesting is that the decision has already been made and there is, in principle, no choice as such. If every person realizes this truth, then life will become easier. You should never reproach yourself for doing something like this and not like that. Know that there was no choice, the decision was made final and was not subject to discussion. And the main thing is that the decision was made on an intuitive level, subconsciously, because it was considered the only correct one at the moment. The desire for self-improvement is a need, like the need for health or safety. And the next question becomes the question of where to start personal self-improvement.
What prevents a person from changing his life?
It is always easier to find those to blame for your own failures and failures. When a person is accompanied by troubles everywhere, he attracts negativity to himself like a magnet, which means the root of the problem is in himself. The inability or unwillingness to recognize this truth often leads to degradation. He becomes nervous, dissatisfied, aggressive, and hot-tempered. Marriages break up, friends are lost, people are fired from their jobs. A person closes himself within four walls and withdraws into himself. He's depressed. Life went downhill. And it’s all to blame for his reluctance to look the problem in the eye and look for the cause of his problems in himself.
Fear of change
There is another reason why it is difficult to change your life. This is fear. Fear of the unknown. “I’m tired of work, the boss bothered me, and they pay me pennies. There is no more strength to live like this!” The way out of this situation is obvious - quit your job and find something more worthwhile. But these “pennies” are much more than pennies for a person. For him, this is stability, this is a guarantee that tomorrow will not be worse than today. And if a person leaves his job, he does not know what awaits him next, how quickly he will find a new source of income, and whether he will find it at all. This fear drives him and does not allow him to decide to take a serious step. And he continues to work, counting the days until his next paycheck and patiently listening to the boss’s complaints and accusations. But if he did decide and overcome his fear, he would soon find many alternative options, one better than the other. And this is a fact, because everything that is done is for the better.
Environment
You need to understand that a person is what surrounds him. The environment plays a significant role in shaping the personality of every person. The company in which he spends most of his time determines his set of qualities, worldview, system of life values, outlook on life and priorities. If in a company (colleagues, friends, family) it is common to drink, smoke, and swear, then it is unlikely that a person will be able to improve himself in an atmosphere where no one will understand or support him. There are two options: either a person leaves everything as it is, or starts life from scratch. Not everyone can break with their past life, abandon old “friends” in order to start living the way they want.
How to change yourself for the better when there are so many obstacles on the way? Everything is very simple - you only need a great desire and willpower.
