Self Improvement – Definition, Meaning, Steps
Self Improvement is the enhancement of one’s knowledge, education, personality, status by making conscious efforts. Self-Improvement is one’s journey to achieve their personal goals.
Definition:-
How to become a better version of yourself? You might be looking for the answer to this question. This is why you have landed on this page. Change is inevitable, and a person changes with the occurrence of various events in our life. However, change takes place without the conscious efforts of a person. For example, when I was a child, I could binge-watch my favorite cartoon, but now I cannot even stand its sound.
But Self-Improvement does not happen like change. One is required to make conscious efforts and do certain things to become a better version of himself. It is not constricted to one particular domain of life. One can improve himself to become better in any field of his or her life.
For example, you can make an effort to become good at studies, and a professional can make efforts to obtain a promotion or get a salary hike, a parent can improve himself to become a better parent, a sports person can improve himself to become a better sportsperson.
Therefore, Self-Improvement is to become aware of one’s limitations and making efforts to either getting rid of your weaknesses or turning them into your strengths. It is a constant process, and there is no restriction of age when a person can start a Self-Improvement process.
Similarly, there is no restriction on the time taken by one person to reach a Self-Improvement goal. A person can learn things at his own pace. For example, one person can take six months to learn something whereas another person can learn the same thing in much lesser time. It depends on the dedication, discipline, punctuality, and availability of resources.
Steps of Self-Improvement:-
Many times, we find ourselves in situations where we don’t like the way we are, or we find ourselves lacking at certain things. The desire to become a better version of ourselves becomes prominent when we see people like us enjoying things that we don’t have.
In this section, you will learn about the set of steps that you can follow to improve yourself in any domain.
1. Awareness of your shortcomings:
The first step is knowing flaws. You cannot grow at anything or become better at anything if you think you know everything. A person who knows what he doesn’t know can only improve himself.
You will exactly know where to put efforts. For example, to become fit and healthy, you are required to eat healthily and opt for physical activity.
2. Set a Goal:
The next step in the process is to set a goal. Once you become aware of your weaknesses and have to desire to turn them into your strengths, you are at the stage to begin the process of Self-Improvement.
Therefore, decide what you finally want to achieve by improving yourself. For example, if you’re going to learn a foreign language, then you must first determine your goal. What level of proficiency do you want? If you wish to get a certification or not? Having the answer to all these questions will help you in deciding your goal.
In addition to setting your goal, divide your goal into smaller goals. Work to achieve those goals one by one. Achieving small goals will give you motivation.
Moreover, you can also track your progress easily.
3. Find or arrange resources:
Once you have decided on your goal, next, you are required to look for the resources that you might want to use to learn. You can find sign up for an online class, or you can enroll in local courses, or you can collect some study material that can help you in your learning process.
It is imperative to do research and figure out your method of learning before you start your learning process. Enrolling in a class will give you discipline and a prepared curriculum. Moreover, you can take the help of professionals to improve yourself.
But if you don’t want to enroll in a class, then it is vital to prepare a detailed plan for your Self-Improvement process. Your half job is done if you have a comprehensive and well-researched plan. You will exactly know what you are supposed to do to reach your goal.
4. Prepare a time table:
Prepare a time table. Make sure that you take out at least one hour a day for the process. The time table is essential; otherwise, you keep postponing your work to the next day, and in this way, you will never reach your goal. If you are working, then you can use your travel time to study and dedicate a few hours of your weekend to test your learning. This way you will know how much more efforts you are required to make.
In reality, it is challenging to stick with the time table. There will be times when you will find it challenging to keep up with your time table. Be mindful of your time spending. Make sure that you have your time-table in front of you all the time.
Paste your time table on your desk. Set reminders on your phone to remind you to do important tasks on time. In this way, you will be able to keep up with your time table and achieve your goal in time.
5. Look for help:
In the process, one works on his weaknesses and learns new skills to become a better person. However, Self-Improvement does not mean that you should do everything on your own. You can take the help of others if you need it.
You can approach people that you think have the skills. For example, if you want to learn cooking, you can always go to your mom and ask her to help you. Your mom will be more than happy to help you. If you have the desire to learn something, then don’t withhold it and take help whenever required.
6. Find inspiration:
People get demotivated and leave in midway when things get tricky. But rather than giving up, take a break and look for inspiration. You will find many people who have achieved similar things that you want to achieve.
It is very easy to find like-minded people in the era of the Internet. You can join an online forum where you can talk to people about your problems. Keeping yourself motivated and inspired is very important to become a better version of yourself.
7. Measure your progress:
It is essential to measure your progress. You can measure your progress weekly or daily. Make notes about how much you have done and how much more you are required to do. You this information to modify your plan. You can slow down or fasten your process of learning, depending on your performance.
8. Repeat the process:
One is required to repeat steps, as mentioned earlier until you achieve your desired outcome. One will never fail in a Self-Improvement process.
Your progress might be slower than others, but you are always moving in the forward direction.
External Improvement
External improvement means improving yourself externally. For example, when you earn money, improve your social status, make a lot of friends, or get a promotion at work. These all are examples of external improvement. External improvement is visible and noticed quickly by the people around you.
Most of the times, people confuse external improvement with Self-Improvement. Because most of the time people start the process to achieve external goals. However, it is much more fulfilling than external improvement.
You can achieve all your external goals by working on your Self-Improvement. For example, you will automatically become entitled to promotion if you will start focusing on your work and acquire new skills. People will like to become your friends with you if they like you as a person.
Therefore, it is more important to work on your Self-Improvement rather than your external improvement. Moreover, it is a life-long process, and external improvement is a short-termed process.
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