8 Ways To Improve Ourselves

We all strive to improve ourselves. In our professions, in our lifestyles, in our relationships, but most of all, we all want to be better as human beings. The constant urge to improve ourselves is an essential part of progress. Without this urge, we will be stagnant forever. A world where no one wants to grow is a scary one to live in. Let’s talk about eight ways through which we can make ourselves better.

Believe in yourself: To grow and be better, first, you will have to believe that you can. Most people do not presume that they can be better than what they are right now. When you do not believe in yourself, you make excuses about why you cannot do it. Don’t fall into the same trap. There will always be many reasons as to why you cannot do it. Lack of time, money, resources, and so forth. However, the moment you decide to act irrespective of your circumstances, you will notice the change. So, stop thinking and planning over and over again. Instead start executing.

There is another aspect to this point. Often we get so busy improving ourselves, that we do not stop for a moment and praise ourselves for all our qualities. Thinking about growing every day is not bad, but if you do not appreciate yourself for who you are, it will have an adverse impact on your growth. After you achieve a certain goal, relax, go on a short holiday, spend time with your family and friends, enjoy life. After all, what is the point in being better if you do not cherish it?

Know your weaknesses: Every person has some negative points. Some aspects of their lives they need to improve. That is not something to be ashamed of. However, to eradicate them and be better, you need to know them first.

A SWOT analysis comes in real handy at this point. Sit with yourself, analyse your behaviour, figure out the areas you can improve on. You can also talk with your family and friends. Ask them what they think your weak points are. Once you know your answer, think about how you can work on them. It will help you a lot.

Have a constant growth mindset: How many times have you taken a resolution and failed? How many times you have promised to yourself that you will wake up earlier, exercise more often, eat healthier food, and didn’t live up to that promise? Many times, right? That is the reason you need to have a constant growth mindset. Most of us are excellent beginners but terrible finishers. We promise ourselves that we will do it, we even start, but then our motivation ends, and we give up. However, when you have a constant growth mindset, it will drive you to be better than you were yesterday. In that way, you will not stop in the midway because of your laziness, or because you think you cannot do it. Of course, building such a mindset requires a lot of time and discipline, but trust me, it will be all worth it.

Stay curious and keep asking: Ever wondered why children learn so fast? It is because they are so curious about everything. There are many wonders in our beautiful earth, waiting for you to find. Only when you become curious, you find them. Your curiosity can lead you to breath-taking experiences; to meet new people and to shape your life in a way you never thought was possible.

On the other hand, the moment you stop being curious, your chance of being a life-explorer ends. Your life will become monotonous, one that you never wanted for yourself. So, always be curious toward everything, and you will receive your reward.

Don’t accept anything because others did for years. You should not always trust your beliefs. What you know or what you heard is not necessarily correct every time. Learn to question things. Ask why they are the way they are. Remember, everyone can see that the apple falls to the ground from the tree, but it was only Issac Newton who found out why. That is because he questioned the event. Questioning and being curious are the two fundamental aspects of learning. Make them count.

Keep learning: Most of the people stop learning at some point in their lives. It can be after they get a job, or after graduating from college. However, the moment you stop learning, you are nothing more than a robot, doing the same things that you know over and over again. So, never stop learning.

In today’s modern world, there are so many ways to learn. One of the main ways is, of course, good old books. I am an avid reader, and I know how much it helps. Read as much as you can. Be it an autobiography, self-help book, or fiction. Make no mistake, you will learn from every single one of them. You can store e-books on your computer or mobile these days too.

You can also listen to podcasts, speeches, and lectures. Watch motivational videos and keep that desire of becoming better version of yourself.

Some other ways to learn are through travelling, honing a skill that you possess, or through real-life experiences. Choose what is the best way for you to learn and follow that way.

Take chances: Sometimes you have to take chances in life to become a better person. It also helps you in recognizing your true self. I took chances, shifting from studying Microbiology to becoming a writer. It sure made me better and not to mention, happier, person. Now that I have experienced it, I will take chances every time I get an opportunity; you should too.
Quit that job you do not like, leave that place that makes you feel lonely, and do what you want to do. Most of all, live your own life. Of course, taking chances can seem scary, even terrifying at first, but once you do, you will love it.

The best moments of your life are hidden for you behind those fears. Just stop being afraid, depressed, lonely and take that crazy chance you always wanted to take. Your world will become a whole lot better.

Learn to accept failure and criticism: No matter what you do, you will fail one time or the other. There is absolutely no way to live without failing at something. However, if you stop doing things altogether for fear of failure, you will not live at all. Failure is much more important than success to help us learn. You will learn all the valuable life lessons during failure. If you never fail, you will never learn. Accept failures, learn from your mistakes, and move on. I promise you will have a story to tell.

Another aspect to consider is criticism. Just like a failure, criticism is inevitable too. In every field of life, you will face criticism. Many break down in front of them, thinking they are not good enough, or that no one understands their point of view. Both these attitudes are harmful to your progress.

Criticism comes in two forms, either it is constructive, or it is destructive. You should always appreciate constructive criticism as they help you to grow. You learn new ideas, different perspectives, and many other ways to do things. It expands your horizon and makes you grow as a person. Welcome them with open arms and see the positive impact in your life.

On the other hand, destructive criticism is criticism for its sake. You will often face it in your life. These criticisms do not help you grow. Instead, they just lower your self-esteem and make you think you are not worthy of anything good. You should avoid them as much as you can. Accept the fact that you cannot make everyone happy and keep on doing what you do.

Choose your company wisely: You become the average of all the person you spend time with. We are always influenced by the people around us. Be it our parents, siblings, or friends. So, choose your company wisely. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to reach your goals and push you to become better. Your life will improve a lot. There are also individuals who do nothing but pull you down, demoralize you, and complain about everything. Identify these people and cut them out of your life. If you want to reach the sky, you will have to lose the dead weight after all.

Consider the points discussed above, and decide for yourself. Strive to become a better person than you were yesterday. You get only one life, make it a life worth remembering.

Share this article to inform more people and tell us your thoughts in the comments below: What do you think of these ideas from Sayanta? Which ones are you using and in what way? Do you have any more suggestions to add?

Author: I am Sayanta Goswami, author of ‘Not God’s Way’ that is available worldwide on Amazon Kindle. You can find more about me on my website www.sayantagoswami.com. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Central.