The Importance of SELF-IMPROVEMENT vs AGE???

Ever since we were young, we were told to excel in everything if I may say. Focus on getting good grades and acing all the exams. And because all of it is directed more toward academics, we tend to forget the aspect of self-improvement and personal development that play an equally important role in people's lives.

 

It often goes unnoticed. We are either conveniently brushing our shortcomings under the carpet, refusing to face them, or just happy being ignorant. And the truth is that you can't run away from yourself. The farther you run, the deeper grave you were digging for yourself. Because all the unresolved emotions will come up and leave you overwhelmed. 

So, what should you do? Start with consciously becoming more aware of what you need, and what your feelings were try to tell you. observing your thoughts, emotions, and responses makes it all an integral part of your life.

Just the way learning should never stop, the same applies to self-improvement. The idea should focus on continuous Self-development at every stage in our life. And you will never know that you discovered within the layer of yourself, all become a better version of yourself. 

Here are a few reasons why self-improvement is important irrespective of your age:

Increase Self-Awareness

We spend most of our time getting to know other people and solving their issues. If only we spent that much time knowing ourselves, things would have been so much more different. Isn’t it?

The first ever step of self-improvement requires you to become more self-aware and get to know yourself better. It makes you question yourself and face reality for what it is, however harsh it might be.

Self-awareness is an ongoing journey – as life progresses, you are met with different experiences and challenges, which make you more aware of your personality, thoughts, and feelings. So, to be on the path of self-improvement, it is important to never lose touch with yourself.

Step out of Comfort Zone

The comfort zone is a dangerous place to be in. It surely feels good, but it also denotes stagnancy and where there is stagnancy, you can never find growth.

Choosing to work on improving yourself requires you to step out of your comfort zone. It lets you face your fears, try new things, take risks and challenge yourself. There will be times when you will discover a new side of your personality but there will also be times when you will fail.

Don’t let those failures bog you down. The fact that you tried should motivate you to never get complacent and too comfortable in familiar spaces because as they say, life begins outside your comfort zone.

Improve Mental Health

One of the biggest importance of self-improvement is the big positive impact it has on mental health. When you work on yourself, you get to know yourself better which lets you deal with your thoughts and emotions more effectively. You begin to understand why you are experiencing certain emotions and learn how to tackle them with time.

Someone who is not self-aware and not focused on improving themselves will have absolutely no control over their reactions which can lead to added stress and anxiety. Being in denial is never the answer.

Sense of Purpose

Deciding to walk the path of self-improvement and personal development gives your life purpose and meaning. Why is that important, you ask? It’s because it helps you stay focused on your life goals, makes you feel alive, and keeps you motivated. It improves mental and physical well-being by keeping you on the right track.

With a sense of purpose, you learn to accept all the challenges that come along the way because you have your eyes set on what really matters – the ‘bigger picture.

So The bottom line, you take this enriching journey of self-improvement in a positive light. The idea is not to get demotivated along the way and lose hope. You should instead take full responsibility for yourself and strive to go beyond your preconceived notions that might be limiting you and this can only be achieved with constant self-improvement.

So, whether you are a retired 67-year-old or a 36-year-old who is just starting off a new path in your career  – remember that you will always be a work in progress and there can never be an end to learning about yourself. That is what makes life purposeful and fun!!!

These are my top best self-help books to read : 

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear,  “Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” — James Clear 
2. The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*uck by Mark Ronson, “Who you are is defined by what you’re willing to struggle for” — Mark Manson
3. You are a BADASS by Jen Sincero, “You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it.” ― Jen Sincero