The prevalence of inspirational quotes and self-improvement tips on my Instagram feed suggests that this topic is popular among celebrities and social media influencers. The current trend emphasizes the importance of waking up early, exercising, and having a nutritious breakfast for physical and mental well-being. While I find these practices helpful, personal development encompasses more than just these strategies. It involves stepping out of your comfort zone, reflecting on positive and negative traits, accepting your present circumstances, possessing moral values, and being open to gaining new knowledge over time. Growing as an individual doesn’t mean completely changing but rather continuously evolving. To embark on this journey, it’s crucial to assess which character traits contribute positively to your growth while acknowledging those that impede you from becoming the best version of yourself.
Currently, I am actively working on overcoming my fear of being held back by becoming more outspoken and expanding my comfort zone. This fear has greatly hindered my personal growth.
In the podcast named “Is There a Limit to our Self Growth?”, Taylor Gage sheds light on the fact that stepping out of your comfort zone, even if it is a small step, can ultimately become comfortable over time and contribute to further growth.
Lately, I have been focusing on developing this characteristic in various areas of my life, such as with my family, friends, and in my classes. After analyzing the reasons behind my lack of assertiveness, I have realized that it stems from being the youngest in my family. Growing up, I was constantly talked over during family dinners, which created a belief in me that my contributions were insignificant due to my age.
As I have gotten older, I have realized the importance of listening more and talking less. This characteristic can be changed, and I have actively worked on not holding back. Fearlessly expressing my thoughts and opinions has been a personal goal that has led to personal growth. My intention is to constantly push beyond my comfort zone because it is through this process that we develop and evolve. When reflecting on myself, one quality I greatly admire is generosity. In his article “Generosity,” Descartes argues that generosity is the foundation for all virtues and has the power to heal any emotional distress (Hunt). From a young age, I have had a passion for volunteering and helping others. Even at seven years old, I began organizing lemonade stands and bake sales where all the profits were donated to the Humane Society. This sense of fulfillment has stayed with me throughout high school.
Throughout my high school years, I devoted my free time and weekends to volunteering at various organizations. My dedication to giving back has always been strong and was further influenced by my grandparents’ establishment of a foundation a few years ago. This foundation allows them to donate a specific amount of money to multiple charities twice a year. I greatly admire their commitment and believe they have played a significant role in shaping my desire to help those in need. Their assurance has instilled in me a lifelong commitment to prioritize giving. These early experiences of selflessness not only molded my character but also provided me with a deeper understanding of myself, propelling me toward the person I aspire to become. While it is important to nurture positive qualities, it is equally crucial to assess and adjust any negative traits we may possess if necessary – one such trait being procrastination.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines procrastination as the act of delaying or postponing something. In her book “A Mind For Numbers,” Barbara Oakley explains that tasks that make us uncomfortable are often the ones we tend to procrastinate. Personally, I have always associated this negative characteristic with school; instead of promptly working on big projects or math homework, for example, I would often delay them as much as possible. This tendency then extended to other tasks such as college applications, going to the gym, and personal growth initiatives. However, with a fresh start in a new school year, I am actively striving to minimize my level of procrastination and have already noticed increased productivity.
My grades are evidence of the significant improvements I have made in this trait. I have learned that procrastinating by saying “I will feel more like it tomorrow” is not a suitable approach; instead, promptly completing tasks is better. Furthermore, personal growth involves accepting one’s current situation and not feeling pressured by societal standards. A few months ago, I struggled to understand this concept as society expected me to start at a prestigious university, making me feel like I had failed compared to my friends attending such institutions. As a result, I quickly began planning for a transfer and made it my main priority from the beginning. However, over time, I realized that constantly worrying about future plans prevented me from appreciating the present moment. Currently, I am enjoying the freedom of gaining new experiences away from home.
By consciously accepting my current situation, I have learned to appreciate where I am without any external pressure. My journey is now starting to feel more like a marathon rather than a sprint, which is how it should be. While my ultimate goal is to attend university next fall and I am working hard towards that, I understand that it will take time. I am also learning not to have the mindset of “I’ll be happy when.” Another aspect of personal growth that holds great importance for me is having strong morals, something I take pride in.
The value of “family first” has had a significant impact on my life and personal development. Since childhood, my parents instilled in me the importance of family bonds. As an example, Sunday night dinners with my grandparents have been a tradition since before my birth and continue even now. Although during middle school there were times when I selfishly begged my parents to let me skip dinner in order to hang out with friends instead, they always insisted on the significance of spending time with my grandparents every Sunday and how much joy it brought them.
As I age, my appreciation for my close-knit family grows. I have come to realize that this dedication has molded who I am today. Without a set of principles, both my respect for others and myself would be lacking. This aspect of my life significantly contributes to my personal development, and I intend to continue adhering actively to my moral compass. Another value that has nurtured my overall growth is the golden rule: “Treat others as you want to be treated.” Despite its common usage, I genuinely consider it highly important. While many may have forgotten its significance since their early school days, I consistently strive to embrace this belief. However, living by this mindset presents challenges as one constantly faces the internal struggle between treating others according to their desires or reciprocating their treatment.
In the past, I used to stoop down to someone’s level, as I did in tenth grade. However, I have since grown and understood the importance of not letting others’ words or actions affect me negatively. Recently, a co-worker continuously acted superior towards me and my colleagues. Many people suggested that we treat her the same way. Yet, after considering stooping down, I ultimately chose to ignore her behavior because reacting would serve no purpose. Instead, I decided to follow the principle of “treating others how you want to be treated.” This shift in mindset has significantly changed how I handle similar situations and has led to satisfying personal growth. While I am content with my personal development thus far, my intention is to further enhance my mindset and live by my principles.
In summary, personal development captivates everyone, including me. We contemplate whether there are any boundaries to our self-growth because we all strive for continuous improvement and acquiring knowledge in different areas of our lives. It is an objective we aim to achieve without encountering any dead-ends, acknowledging that there are practical limitations to how much we can surpass in our journey of personal development. We consistently investigate and educate ourselves on methods to foster self-improvement and expand our perspectives to novel concepts. Ultimately, this subject fascinates every individual without exception.
