We have talked about the entire Wheel of Life in this blog series. Have you placed a number on each of the topics as to where you are in your life? Our first topic was Fitness, followed by Nutrition, Restoration, Peace, Finances and then your Career. Finally, we wrap it all up with a look at Personal Growth.
Personal growth and development is a transformational process, in which improvements are made in your physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, social, and/or financial state, in essence, every area of the Wheel of Life. The process of Personal Growth is to inspire you to improve and empower yourself so you can develop to your full potential. The result can be a much more satisfying and meaningful life, which may include stronger relationships, a deeper faith, financial security, more energy, and overall a healthier life.
Small steps
So, where do you begin? Many of these questions tie directly to the questions we talked about in the Career blog. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, as well as good and bad habits. What are your hopes for the future? Look at new ways to align your values, goals and dreams of the future with your current actions. Then evaluate how you can get there.
For instance, maybe you scored low on Nutrition. Up to this point you prefer junk food and highly processed foods over fresh, nutrient dense foods. Then you may want to schedule an appointment with a dietitian. Or start by trying a new vegetable or prepare them in a new way. Your taste buds can and do change. If you currently crave sweet desserts and beverages, you might start decreasing them to one per week. As you remove sugar from your diet your taste buds start to adjust.
Another option is to follow a diet like Whole 30 to rid yourself of sugar. This will reduce your cravings drastically. Not only will you feel better but it will reduce your triglycerides, cholesterol, weight and waist! The same is true for any area of your life. Decide what is not in line with your values and set specific and measurable goals to get there. Begin making small changes. Your “muscle memory” will improve, cravings decrease, change will occur and you will be on your way to becoming the person you were created to be.
What is success?
Each of us have different personality types and different ideas of what it means to be successful. Self-knowledge is a common goal that will help you recognize what personal success looks like to you. What other people consider success may not be important to you. Pay attention to what is important to you: your values and your goals. Think about your role models and people who have influenced your life. What was it about them that struck you?
Follow what you believe to be truly important. Recognize any discrepancies between how you live and what you believe to be true. Be careful not to spend time trying to meet someone else’s idea of success and therefore ignoring or belittling your own idea of success. Otherwise, you will find yourself unhappy and exhausted trying to meet others expectations. Realize what is truly important to you, and continue to re-evaluate and pursue your goals that are in alignment with your values. As you continue doing this throughout your life, you will continue in your Personal Growth.