Personal development is a lifelong process. It is a way for each individual to grow by developing their skills and qualities. Personal development allows you to change your life by taking into account your personal ambitions in order to reveal your potential.  

Clarify your personal values  

Knowing your core values ​​helps you understand who we are. Being in accordance with one’s own values, without being subjected to those of others, allows to feel in harmony with oneself and alleviate some negative feelings. Whether it is freedom of thought, authenticity, professionalism, humor, humility or sharing, determine the values ​​that are close to your heart. Respecting its fundamental values ​​will allow you to build your life on a healthy basis and will help you achieve your goals.  

Living with deep values facilitates decision-making and builds self-confidence. You can then put these values ​​into action and devote your time and energy to them. To make it easier for you, list your values ​​then assign each of them a personal mission. If you value sharing, do not hesitate to devote time to an association, for example.

Find out what gives meaning to your life

Explore different avenues to find what is your life mission. This objective is essential whatever the age to develop personally. Research in positive psychology has shown thata life that is meaningful, can increase the level of happiness and make it lasting. People who give meaning to their work, believing that what they do helps make the world a better place, tend to be happier in life.  

Think about what you could do to make your life more meaningful. Would you like to heal, teach, build, create or cultivate? Change the way you look at your daily actions. It can be in the way you interact with others throughout the day. A smile exchanged with a stranger can brighten his day.    

Determine your strengths and weaknesses  

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses leads us to self-knowledge that builds confidence. You can use your strengths wisely in order to achieve a life goal. By having a sense of your personal limits, you will move forward in a more secure way in your life. Also look to work on your weaknesses, for example by building your self-confidence or improving your relationship with others.  

There are several ways you can examine and explore your strengths and weaknesses. Regularly try new activities. See what comes naturally to you and find out how far you can go to improve your skills. Focus on the areas that are challenging for you. Then work to be proficient in those areas, while focusing on your strengths. Look for new opportunities to put your strengths into action.  

Find the joy of living  

There are several goals that can bring you happiness in life, but one of the key goals is to find out what brings you true zest for life. This Ability to Cultivate Happiness Can Help You Stay Energetic and Motivated, but can also help you build resilience. Cultivating positive thinking, accepting letting go and having fun with the little things in life can go a long way in helping you find the joy of living.  

Put in place strategies to help you find what brings you joy. Remember your childhood and what made you happy. Many of these things can still bring you joy. Expressing creativity often brings joy, whether it is painting, playing music or writing. Sometimes the greatest joy can come from the newness of an experience.  

Take care of yourself  

The physiological needs of hunger, thirst, sleep and the elimination of wastes from the body are inherent in self-development. They are found elsewhere at the base of Maslow’s pyramid before the need for security and belonging. Sleep debt, for example, can lead to cardiovascular disease and digestive problems. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, plan a good night’s sleep. The same goes for maintaining a healthy diet and regular physical exercise.  

Taking care of yourself is a holistic approach. So, taking care of yourself on a physical level is just as important as it is on an emotional level. Learn to relate to others and learning to communicate better, perhaps crucial to develop personally. Delaying the acquisition of these skills can lead to certain conflicts in your relationships and to inner anger that is more difficult to manage.   

Stephanie Haerts

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