Self improvement, something we tend to hear about but aren’t really sure what it is or how to start. To some, it may seem like a big deal which often deters people from even trying, which it is not at all. You can get started right now and I’m here to provide a high level overview of what you can do to ensure you are on a journey upwards. Examine your social circle There is a well known saying that “you are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with”. This is based on the law of averages, a theory that the result of any given situation will be the average of all outcomes. Your salary, happiness, habits, goals and aspirations are determined by those you associate with. I was a bit sceptical when I first heard this, but as time went on I did realise how true this was. By no means does it mean you should cut people from your life and burn bridges. It stresses that you need to take control of how your time is spent and who you spend it with. There are some people you should spend only a couple of hours with and others you should spend a day with. Books, books, books! Piggybacking off the previous point, books can also be seen as associates you spend your time with. I like to see books as walking personalities and mindsets, basically condensed versions of the successful authors behind them. My first step towards self improvement was reading books, here are a few I highly recommend to start off! The Power of Now — Eckhart TolleHow to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale CarnegieThink and Grow Rich — Napoleon HillThe Slight Edge — Jeff Olson Set goals There is a legitimate reason why you hear this so many times, it is fundamental. You can improve all you want, but if you have nothing to aim for and apply yourself to, what good is any of it? You need a ‘why’, something that gets you up in the morning without hesitation, something that motivates you to try harder, something that is so meaningful that it pulls you towards a better version of yourself. Become the master of your head space Though powerful, the mind can also be a detriment if we allow ourselves to identify with the thoughts. I’m sure everybody has experienced a time when we were happy as can be and all of a sudden, that happiness just disappears for no reason. The mind is unstable thing and has been the reason for many wrongdoings in this world. On your journey on self improvement, it is paramount that you learn to not identify with your thoughts. The mind should be an instrument, not a vice. To learn more about this, I highly recommend The Power of Now and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. The former was the first book I ever read from front to back and really was the catalyst for change for me. Though there are so many more topics that could be covered, I’d like to send you guy’s off with those four simple, but valuable points. Personally, I’ve still got so much I want to achieve and build upon and I don’t want to come off as some self-improvement master. But I believe if everyone followed a path towards self-actualisation, the world would be a much happier a place, so I’m doing my part to help spread the message
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