Self-development is one of life’s main goals. It is quite possibly the task which takes up most of our time. All of us are on a never-ending quest for improvement. And that is nothing to be ashamed about; nor is it anything to worry about. It’s just a matter of fact. It is one of the main factors which make us truly human. To constantly better ourselves is a fine method for living indeed, and everybody finds themselves doing it. People do it in all sorts of different ways, and to varying degrees, but it is a common human attribute which can’t be denied. So what are some of the main factors involved in self-development? Let’s have a look at the major umbrella sections of personal growth.
Confidence
This is the one that most people struggle with for most of their lives. The truth is, confidence is just something which you gain more of as time goes on. That’s because the more you achieve, the more you understand that you are capable of great things. Your view of what you are capable of is always increasing, and therefore so is your confidence. There are, however, some techniques for improving your confidence, and you may as well try some of them at some point in your life. The main thing to remember with confidence is that it’s possible to fake it until you make it. Often, confidence is no more than pretending to be confident.
Self-Image
Self-image is tied up in everything that we do. Often, when we suffer from some blow too deeply, it is because we are transfixed on an image of ourselves which is too limited. Self-image is not just a matter of whether you think of yourself in good terms or not. It encapsulates your entire sense of self, who you think you are.
If you have a fixed idea about being bad at a particular task, then you tend to prove it to yourself. That’s why a positive self-image is so important. What you believe, becomes the case. Some people, like Daniel Branch, make a huge deal of this – and not for no reason.
Outlook
How you approach the different trials and tribulations in your life really makes a huge difference to the quality of living. Your outlook dictates, to a large extent, not only how well things go, but what actually happens in the first place. It’s not magic – if you are positive, you exude that positivity, and it attracts similar people and events towards you. The same happens if you are negative – you bring negativity into your life, and it spirals and gets worse. So one of the kindest things you can do for yourself is to simply choose positivity as often as you feel able. You won’t always feel able, and that’s okay too.
Compassion
This last attribute is often overlooked, possibly because people believe that it isn’t a part of developing oneself. However, what you put out into the world, you get back. So it is in your own interest to be as compassionate as possible to those around you. This doesn’t mean letting people walk all over you. But it does mean that you should be as kind as possible, if only so that you will receive that kindness in return. Though it is more about other people, compassion is the one attribute of these four which will do the most for you in the long run. If you want to improve yourself, help those around you to improve – see what happens. You won’t regret it.
