Know Thyself
Self improvement is a laudable goal, but it must begin with an honest self-assessment. If you have never done such a thing, try beginning now, with a list of everything you can do, use, operate, etc. Start with being able to write, either with pen to paper or type on a keyboard, and include everything, no matter how trivial (use a phone, drive a car, grow plants, etc). You will amaze yourself with the number of skills and abilities you have amassed through the years.
Take Control
Next, you must learn that there is only one thing in life over which you have complete control: your thinking/attitude. What you think and how you feel about it are inseparable. That means how you perceive yourself is inextricably linked to how you feel about yourself. No matter what others may say about you (or think in their hearts), only you know your true thoughts and feelings. Never let the negative influence of other people rule your own thoughts and feelings.
Make a Road-map
With this in mind, you might consider writing down your goals and plans for the future. Having a clear mental picture of where you want to end up not only provides you with a target to aim for, it also protects you from becoming a SNIOP (Susceptible to the Negative Influence of Other People). Unless you are already familiar with the process of crafting your future in words, you might find it helpful to use a set of goal setting and planning tools that have proven useful to others, like those available here, for free. The worksheets and manuals will help you through each stage of your plan, including what you don’t want in your life. Weeding out time wasters, stress and other problems can help you reach your goals faster, and with less effort.
Write Your Way, the Right Way
An unusual and surprisingly effective method of self improvement is called Grapho-Therapy. The creator of this method claims that changing your handwriting can change your life for the better. Since the way you write given letters can reveal character traits and behavioral habits, by changing the way you write “negative” letter shapes, you can change the underlying behavior. It’s not free, but I include it as a tool for you to examine.
Accounting for Change for the Better
Next, make a budget. That means not only writing down each and every source of income and expenditure you have, it means tracking exactly how much money you have on you at any given time. Many people have been amazed at how they fritter away money by just assuming they have enough on them for this or that little thing they want to buy. Those “little things” can add up to a major sum that could be put to better use. Get into the practice of accounting for the pennies, and the dollars will begin to take care of themselves.
Let Go of the Past
There may be things in your past that still bother you today. Whether it’s a bad encounter with another person or something you did that was less than you could have done, it still haunts you. Try writing a letter of forgiveness, in which you describe, in detail, how you perceive what happened. Then, most importantly, forgive whatever hurt or injury was done to you by others and forgive yourself for not being perfect. You don’t have to send the letter—keep it for yourself and your peace of mind.
Forge Lasting Connections
Finally, no self improvement efforts will be complete unless you include others in your life. That means starting or continuing a dialogue with those you are close to and those you wish to cultivate as colleagues, mentors, etc. Even if it’s only an occasional email, keep in touch with those you value, and tell them you value them. They, in turn, may surprise you with just the right word, at just the right time, that improves your life in ways you cannot now imagine.
The Ultimate Self-Improvement Tool
Writing can be the best way for you to do the one thing many of us never do: change. Self improvement is as much art as it is science. By documenting all the changes you wish to make, you give yourself a fighting chance to make good on your good intentions.
