Does it feel like your life is just slipping by and you have no personal growth? It doesn’t have to, there is still time to create a meaningful life. Your personal growth is your responsibility. No one else has the time or interest to make a change for you – well maybe your spouse or someone that loves you – but they can’t do the work for you! It is not easy to make positive changes to your life, but it can be done.
There are plenty of people that serve as inspirational stories for the rest of us. You can make your life one of those stories. If nothing else, you can at least upgrade your life to one that you prefer over the current one.
Techniques for Personal Growth and to Upgrade Your Life
Eliminate distractions.
We all might like to have the concentration powers of a monk, but most of us do not. We’re distracted by noise, our cell phones, the internet, TV, and many other things. Remove as many distractions from your life as possible. Focus on people when they talk to you. One of my favorite techniques for focus is using focus awareness meditation.
What is one distraction you can eliminate from your life to make room for what you want?
Avoid evaluating yourself based on the opinions of others.
One hard thing to accept with success is that so few people are happy for you. You might receive criticism or even attempts to sabotage your efforts. Why would others do that to you? Some people may just not like you. Others may be jealous that they were not able to accomplish their own goals. Some may just love you so much they don’t want you to change. Either way, other perceptions of you are none of your business. If you want to improve, consider that your accomplishments are enough and you don’t need their approval.
What is one opinion that is not helping you move forward that you could begin to ignore?
Set priorities.
Begin each day with a list of priorities and do your best to accomplish them each day. You will need another list the following day. Start each day knowing what needs to be done. The Ivy Lee method of productivity has helped people show up every day for over 100 years. Start your day with your top six things to do, do them. What you don’t do begins at the top of the list the next day. Rinse and repeat. Setting priorities works.
What are your priorities?
Focus on one improvement at a time.
You might want to start a business, learn to play the accordion, lose 50 pounds, learn French, and take flying lessons, but there is only so much time in the day. Pick a one thing that means the most to you and focus your energy there. You will accomplish much more if you can avoid spreading yourself too thin. What are the things you would most like to change in your life? Pick the one that will have the most impact and focus there. Avoid other goals that are not on your list, and finish one at a time.
Identify your values.
Everything flows from your values. Knowing what is most important to you will allow you to arrange your life in a way that makes sense for you. It will also allow you to set goals that are meaningful. If you do not know your goals, how will you make decisions?
Revisit your goals daily.
Have you ever set a New Year’s resolution, only to find that you have completely forgotten it a few days or weeks later? The solution is to have a set time each day when you review your goals and keep them fresh in your mind. If you can find the time, twice a day is even better.
Find role models.
Find others who have achieved what you want to accomplish. It is also important that they started from the same point, or worse, that you are starting from. Be sure to only take advice from those who are worthy of your attention.
Evaluate yourself and your progress.
It is not enough to have a great plan and work hard. It is also necessary to evaluate your results. Then, you can adjust and perfect your approach.
What changes would you like to make to your life? What areas of your life would you like to see the most growth? Chose one growth strategy and try it out on your own life.
Be willing to experiment and run with the techniques that work for you. Take control and build the life of your dreams – or at least upgrade your life!
Our 30 Day Goals and Resolutions Challenge is starting on November 20th to help you create more productive resolutions this year. Join Our Challenge
