Since self-improvement is so simple to dismiss as “optional,” very few people actually make the effort to do so. Investing in yourself by learning new skills and expanding your knowledge is one of the most useful ways to spend your time. One may even say that life is about fulfilling one’s potential. All of your efforts are directed at “self-improvement” in some form or another. You always try to do good in the world. Most people’s pursuit of ‘things’ and tuff’s’ is driven by the unconscious belief that acquiring more material possessions will bring them happiness.
The obvious flaws in this idea are easy to uncover. We read about another ‘very successful’ person who has ended up in treatment or committed suicide. Why? To paraphrase Charles Atlas once again: all that matters is that you work on being a better version of yourself. There is no time in life at which you can say, “Now that I’ve made it, I’m going to relax for the next decade.” And yet, this is what many people see when they think of “the dream.”
Persevering in one’s own development is the surest way to enjoy a fulfilled existence. Investing time and effort into making your life better on a regular basis is the surest path to long-term happiness. In order to survive, life must always be in motion. Everything in nature that does not grow eventually decays and dies. Whether you choose to develop or perish, you will almost likely experience a death of the mind even if you avoid a physical one. A lack of personal development can lead to negative outcomes such as depression. You will feel like you are perishing if you are not developing as a person.
Opportunities for personal development appear in the course of our daily lives. In most cases, these opportunities are masked as problems, and most people curse them instead of seizing them. Don’t hope for less difficulties, as Earl Schoff once advised. I hope you feel better soon. This is where maturing as an individual comes into play; doing so requires intent and effort.
The question then becomes why it is that so few people take responsibility for their own development. Unfortunately, many people are unable to make meaningful development in any area of their lives due to internal roadblocks that hinder them from developing as people. The word “actively” here is crucial. There are three interconnected patterns of behavior that stifle personal development and hold us back the most. Thus, we are unable to make any headway in our life as a whole.
Personal Growth barriers
Procrastination
When we put off doing something, especially if it’s crucial, we’re being procrastinators. While you may be aware that you want a certain outcome and that you know the best way to get that outcome, you may find that you are unable to take any action toward that goal. Your current circumstance is a direct result of your inaction. Whatever it is that you’re putting off doing is probably exactly what you should be doing right now because it will teach you to stop making excuses and start making progress. Remember that you only put off doing work that you really want to do and that you know, deep down, will benefit you.
Indecision
A choice must be made before taking any action. Every deed has its roots in a decision, and indecision can always be traced back to a lack of decision-making. In a sense, the inability to decide is itself a choice. Being unable to make a decision is a condition that needs to be cured. To put it simply, indecision is the outcome of a fear of failure, as you can’t possibly fail if you don’t take any action at all. Nothing that could happen in the future has happened yet, so worrying about the worst-case scenario won’t help you make a decision. If you don’t take charge of the situation and make some choices, you won’t be able to move forward.
Comfort Zones
In other words, comfort zones consist of everything you know and have done so often that you refuse to try anything new. When you’re in your safe space, you know exactly what to expect, and you feel confident in your ability to handle whatever comes your way. Because you’ve done this previously, you’re comfortable doing it again. One’s views and one’s perspective are both tested and pushed to their limits when one leaves the safety of one’s usual routine. However, expanding your horizons by doing things that make you nervous forces you to develop as a person and ultimately leads to personal growth. Most of your restrictions stem from your own set of beliefs about what is possible for you, what you enjoy and dislike, and what you consider to be morally acceptable. To prevent stagnating and becoming confined by your comfort zones, you must continually challenge your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual selves. As Oliver Wendell Holmes famously put it, “Man’s mind, once extended to new notion never returns back to its previous size.”
The only thing stopping you is another obstacle. These standard vehicle barriers at border checkpoints always amaze me because of how “flimsy” they are. They are ineffective against bicycles but effective against huge 16-wheelers. This is a mental block, rather than a physical one. Your own limitations are, too. If you don’t let them, they can stop you, but they can’t keep you. There’s no need to dwell on their presence for too long before moving on. Self-improvement involves initiative and a deliberate decision. Continuously developing and broadening your “self” is the surest way to guarantee a joyful, fulfilled existence full of joy and admiration.
