Personal growth is a universal goal. A major life event like a significant birthday, the death of a loved one or a life disappointment can prompt us to take greater control of our lives and improve our skills so that we may grow and prosper. We all strive to be motivated and energized, have great relationships with other people, be physically fit and healthy, develop a strong state of mind, enjoy financial growth and security, conduct ourselves with confidence and experience happiness. What are some steps we can take to continue to grow and develop? Try following some of these guidelines:
• Release the past. Growth means looking and going forward. Being caught in the past prevents you from moving forward. Release old anger and resentment. Learn to forgive others as well as yourself to heal recurring psychological wounds.
• Build a strong personal foundation. Evaluate what is most important to you, and make these your personal standards. Base your decisions on these standards.
• Strive for maturity. Maturity is achieved when a person learns how to make good, responsible decisions and live with the consequences of those decisions.
• Cultivate meaningful relationships. Give of yourself to relationships that mean the most to you and commit faithfully to these. In relationships, a person learns to value and respect other people. This is a vital component in building strong bonds and meaningful connections. Remember, friends are gifts that you give yourself. Make sure that your relationships enhance your personal growth. Leave behind relationships that drain you or limit your own growth.
• Invest time in yourself. This means treating your body, mind and spirit with the utmost care and respect. Respect your body by feeding it the best nutrition you can and by exercising daily. Respect your mind by thinking positive thoughts and by learning new skills that stimulate the development of thinking on a higher level. Respect your spirit by practicing your religion or your spirituality on a regular basis. Practice acts of kindness towards others. As the saying goes, “it is greater to give than to receive.”
• Try new things. To really grow, you must always challenge yourself to try new things. When we stay in old routines and patterns, we cannot grow. Stagnation inevitably occurs. Trying something new, even if it is scary at first, allows you to grow on every level. As you gain comfort and even master new skills, you have inevitably grown. Try this in every aspect of your life. Travel to new places, try new foods, sign up for a new fitness class and read new books.
Whatever your goals may be, when it comes to personal growth, remember to enjoy the process. As the saying goes, “it is not the destination that matters, but rather the journey that takes you there.”
For more information contact SoMi Fitness at 305-775-4128 or via email at somifitness@gmail.com
