6 Fundamentals of Self-Improvement

Self-improvement can be a broad topic—where does one begin? Narrowing down to a few fundamentals can pave the path to being a better version of yourself.Self-improvement is often billed as a modern phenomenon, but it’s a practice with ancient roots.As far back as the 10th century B.C., King David was writing and curating his inspired book of practical advice that we now know as the Book of Proverbs. Centuries later, in the 3rd century B.C., Stoic philosophers spread their thoughts on improving one’s life through intentional effort across the Mediterranean.The idea that we can shape our personalities, improve our lives, and make a difference in the world by becoming better versions of ourselves appears hard-wired in our DNA.While some modern versions of self-improvement may seem shallow and self-centered compared to those classics, there were likely lesser versions back then as well. We can, however, choose to focus on a version of growth that leads us closer to the virtuous, honorable people we seek to be.My goal is not to lay out a one-size-fits-all philosophy for change but to highlight a few fundamental principles that have worked for me and other people I know. I hope they inspire you to be less complacent about your life. Regardless of our age or status, we should all strive to make the most of this one life we have.6 Fundamentals of Self-Improvement1. Know Where You Are HeadingWhile you don’t need to have everything figured out before you take action, it’s important to have an idea of where you want to get to—even if only in a general direction. Many of my worst decisions in life were simply default paths that I failed to exit when they were no longer taking me where I wanted to go. I didn’t know what I wanted, and so I just continued in the direction I was heading.2. Never Underestimate the Power of Consistent EffortMost of my successes in life, from starting a blog with my wife to running cross country in college, did not feel very successful in the beginning. For example, we initially wrote for a blog audience size that you could count on both hands, and that season lasted for many months before we slowly started accumulating followers. I fully attribute our relative success to sticking with it for years, while others may have given up in discouragement.3. Know Yourself and Create a Plan That Leverages Your StrengthsI am not a person who enjoys strict discipline, detailed schedules, and a checklist mentality, though there have been many periods in my life when I tried to use such tools to improve myself. I saw others succeeding with similar methods and thought they must have known something I didn’t. What I didn’t know about was myself and how to keep myself motivated over the long run. Today, I focus on a plan that makes me excited to engage with my goals each day, not one that feels like a chore.4. Don’t Be Distracted by Every New IdeaInsatiably curious, I am inclined toward new ideas and strategies. However, I’ve learned that this part of my personality must be balanced by achieving a consistent effort over a long period of time. I’ve come to believe that a “good enough” plan you stick with is far superior to a “better plan” and reinforces the idea that there’s always a better plan. In other words—don’t train yourself to believe that the grass is always greener if it leads you to throw in the towel too early.5. Appreciate Where You Are and How Far You’ve ComeSelf-development can be taken too far and made into something you worship for its own sake. One way I tried to combat this temptation is to regularly reflect on what I’m grateful for. It could be the progress I’ve already made and the satisfaction that comes from honest effort, but even better is when I stop to appreciate things that can’t be earned and are simply gifts for me to enjoy. This might include my faith, friends, family, hobbies, nature, or a form of entertainment that lifts my spirits.6. Reframe Failures as Learning ExperiencesOne of the most powerful self-improvement mindsets I’ve learned is the ability to become a learning machine. Instead of seeing failures, struggles, setbacks, or disappointments as failures and allowing them to leave you discouraged—you can actively reinterpret such events as something you can learn from.I believe you only learn when something challenges you, so I’ve come to see achieving hard things as the perfect training ground to practice the skills and values I care about. In this way, I see them not as something to be avoided but as experiences to embrace when they come my way.Related Stories10/24/2024