The Ongoing Journey of Self-Improvement
Truly, there is no greater work to be done than figuring out how to be our absolute best as human beings. Think about it…
Did you know that September is National Self-Improvement Month?! I had a general knowledge of the occasion, but had never taken the time to be intentional about sharing with others what that may look like for us. Of course, we all would like to improve within certain areas of our own lives… maybe we have even set routines or habits into place to achieve a particular level of improvement.
There are several self-improvement “gurus”/experts around the world holding seminars and webinars on the topic. You cannot walk into your local bookstore without finding a display table full of the latest and greatest techniques to put into action. And while those are all well and good, what really matters the most is what you do with all of that information. Just like anything in this life we are living, we have to put in the work! Truly, there is no greater work to be done than figuring out how to be our absolute best as human beings. Think about it… whether you are functioning in the role of a parent, spouse, employee, friend, employer, etc., you should operate from some level of knowledge, expertise, willingness to learn, and love for what you are doing. And that’s just on a base level. If you want any advanced level of success, it will take ongoing effort on your behalf to grow and keep up with increased demand and advancements in any particular field you happen to engage in.
I should share, in case you didn’t know (*wink), I’m no expert in self-improvement! Shocker, right?! Ha! I’m a work in progress! Also, I just so happen to be a continuous life-long learner looking for ways in which to improve myself, FOR myself and FOR others. So, that’s where we will start! I just want to share four ways that I strive to achieve ongoing self-improvement. Prayerfully, you learn something from me and will then also share what currently works for you.
Get enough rest - Proper rest could mean the amount of sleep you get at bedtime, but also taking rest breaks during your daily activities. Rest allows your body and mind to reset and refresh, preparing for the next task/activity. Imagine what you could achieve if you were able to get your ideal amount of sleep each night. I cannot tell you what the proper number of hours you need, but the Sleep Foundation recommends that most healthy adults need at least seven hours of sleep each night.
Study to become an expert - Whether it be your career, your passion, or your role in your family or friend circle, put in the work to be your best. I say “work”, but when you are doing something that you love, it really doesn’t feel like work. And when you do it well (whatever “it” may be), there' is a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with learning new skills and elevating yourself to a new level. This also includes surrounding yourself with like-minded people who have similar goals and aspirations. They are sometimes able to provide that forward momentum needed to assist on our journey.
Build your confidence - With the gaining of new skills, the increase in personal confidence often comes. However, we shouldn’t rely solely on whether or not we are able to achieve an expertise level. There are a ton of factors that come into play when studying to become an expert, specifically the fact that it can take TIME… possibly an undeterminable amount of time. So, instead of waiting, we’ve got to find other ways to improve confidence. Let’s explore how….
Pay attention to your appearance - Presenting yourself in a clean and neat manner can make a huge difference in how you feel and how others receive you.
Practice positive self-talk - Remind yourself of your strengths and your goals through the reciting of, and journaling of, positive affirmations.
Stop comparing yourself to others - Remember: comparison is the thief of joy! We want ALL the joy! Your journey is yours, and yours alone. When we look at others, we are often only seeing a snippet of their full life’s story. Therefore, we should keep our focus on ourselves… there is plenty of work to be done within that requires our time and attention.
Pray and try meditation - For me, prayer allows me to remember that I’m not alone, and it also requires me to be accountable outside of myself. I find answers, insight, guidance, and love in my relationship with Jesus. Meditation can also play a helpful role in grounding ourselves. I prefer guided meditation, because sometimes my mind is moving so fast with the day’s tasks and responsibilities, that I’m unable to slow down enough for it to be beneficial. With guided meditation, clear direction is provided with oral instructions about body posture, breathwork, imagery, and visualization. It’s very helpful to take 3-15 minutes to focus before continuing your day, hopefully with an improved mindset and calmer disposition.
My wish is that these four insights aid in your journey to self-improvement. And while September is designated as a time for this focus, don’t let the work you do for yourself stop on September 30! Keep moving forward, keep doing your individual best. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, but it’s definitely a start. Take what you need and add what currently works for you. So many forces in this world have the potential to negatively affect our wellbeing, so we must stay consistently focused on improving ourselves so that we can pour positivity into our environment… locally and beyond!
Word of the Year
Any given word may have a complete different meaning and impact from one person to the next, and that is perfectly fine. That’s actually the beauty of it! You, and you alone, are in control of the interpretation and execution, in your own way and in your own time.
Now faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 - NKJV
FAITH - This is my Word of the Year!
Have you ever heard of creating a Word of the Year at the beginning of a new year? Have you ever established one for yourself? A Word of the Year is the practice of selecting one particular word that will serve as your motto, guide, or focus for the coming year. People go to great lengths to come up with a word that will truly convey what their intention or goal may be for themselves. Research may be employed to determine the best word, even prayer and meditation are used as guidance in selecting a word. It is different from creating a New Year Resolution, a practice many of us may be more familiar with. Sometimes with resolutions, although we have the best intentions, we can create unrealistic and strict goals for ourselves that do not always foster growth and awareness, but rather give us a task that is to be completed, a box to be checked upon completion. When that task is not achieved, we may feel defeated and give up on that focus altogether. In my opinion, with a Word of the Year, we have more flexibility to establish exactly what that word means for us individually. Any given word may have a complete different meaning and impact from one person to the next, and that is perfectly fine. That’s actually the beauty of it! You, and you alone, are in control of the interpretation and execution, in your own way and in your own time.
FAITH is a must-have for me in 2021. Really, it is a must-have every year, but I’ve got to cling to this word in 2021. Faith is a belief that is not based on proof… We do not know what tomorrow holds for any of us, that is evident in our everyday lives, in terms of health, employment, relationships, finances, even life itself. But, one thing we can know for sure is that God’s got our back. The tough part is trusting and believing in that daily. We cannot do it by ourselves, we have to put our faith to work. And, that’s my goal for 2021!
One thing that I have done differently this year, in regards to my Word of the Year, is to set calendar reminders in my phone for every couple of weeks. This will guarantee that I stay focused and committed, reminding me to take the time to assess my progress and continue to hold myself accountable.
If this sounds like a practice that you would like to establish for yourself, I suggest you take time and truly think of what is important to you and what strides you would like to make in this new year. Finding a word/focus that was right for me took extra time this year, I had to be patient with myself. If we had not learned before 2020, I think last year really taught us to slow down and be patient with ourselves and others. Let’s not forget that as we move forward. Be thankful and be kind!