This time of year, many of our goals and resolutions are related to self-improvement. We think of ways to better ourselves in the coming year and nurture a renewed commitment to stick to our goals. I encourage you to find joy in self-improvement. You will see all the good that occurs in the process or growth and change.
In the past year or so I have found myself focusing more on self-improvement. At this time of my life I have some extra time that I didn’t have when my kids were young and needed me more. In the past, I would use my “extra time” for work on home projects, shopping and other things that weren’t necessarily fulfilling any greater purpose.
As I was seeking something different, I began following new people on social media and listening to different podcasts. I soon noticed that what I was following and listening to had one thing in common and that was self-improvement. I was drawn to ideas of growth, purpose, learning and challenging myself.
What leads us to self-improvement?
What lead me to working on self-improvement was a general feeling of being stuck. I felt like even though the routines of my life were good, I was not necessarily moving forward toward anything. Instead, I felt like I was just coasting along. I instinctively knew that I could use my time in a more productive way and I felt a certain challenge to make myself better.
In my search for a more meaningful and productive use of my time, I found that I was drawn to inspirational conversations. I began reading books about improving my life and setting goals. My focus shifted to tips and conversations about taking control of my decisions, my health and my attitude. I started eating better, cooking healthier and trying new foods. I focused on getting adequate amounts of sleep and started being consistent and pushing myself with exercise. My bible reading became a daily priority and I made an effort to extend myself beyond my comfort zone in being vulnerable.
Finding joy in the process
I am nowhere near where I want to be in all of these categories but I’m not sure that matters. I believe what matters is that I am finding joy in the process. It feels good to work on something and work towards things that make me a better person. I feel productive and challenged and that invigorates me.
It is hard to start self-improvement goals and even harder to stick with them. I give myself a lot of grace and allow many times of saying, “start again tomorrow”. I don’t expect all of the changes to happen at once or for my goals to be reached quickly. It takes time and I am ok with that.
Self-improvement vs self-focus
There is a big distinction for me between self-improvement and self-focused. My goal of being a better person is not to focus more on myself. I am challenging myself to be better at serving others. I want to be using my time and talents to make a difference in the lives of those around me. While self-improvement often means improving our own health and happiness, it can also mean living a more purposeful and productive life.
When we take care of our bodies, we are then better equipped to be strong and healthy to help others. When we learn new skills we can then use those skills to teach and bring enjoyment to people around us. Taking time to grow spiritually and mentally stronger allows us to relate to others in a more positive and productive way.
The ultimate reason for meditating is to transform ourselves in order to be better able to transform the world. To put it another way, we transform ourselves so that we can become better human beings and serve others in a wiser and more effective way.
Matthieu Ricard
Challenge yourself to improve
Experience the joy of of self-improvement by challenging yourself. Start by taking time to evaluate your life, time and goals (read more on prioritizing here). Allow yourself the gift of time to reflect and dream. Then, instead of tackling all the things at once, simply pick one or two areas where you really want to improve. Need some ideas and inspiration? Here is a list of 42 ways to improve yourself.
Remember, happiness doesn’t just come when you reach your end goal, but it is also felt in the journey to get there. Enjoy the feelings of pride and motivation as you work towards something. Embrace the purposeful use of your time. Self- improvement is a good thing and I believe you will find true joy in the process.