Before you go through the 7-day self-improvement crash course program, let’s take a look first on how to unlock self-improvement.
When we look at a certain object, a painting for example – we won’t be able to appreciate what’s in it, what is painted and what else goes with it if the painting is just an inch away from our face.
But if we try to take it a little further, we’ll have a clearer vision of the whole artwork.
We reach a point in our life when we are ready for change and a whole bunch of information that will help us unlock our self-improvement power.
Until then, something can be staring us right under our nose but we don’t see it. The only time we think of unlocking our self-improvement power is when everything got worst.
Take the frog principle for example.
Try placing Frog A in a pot of boiling water.
What happens?
He twerps!
He jumps off!
Why?
It is because he is not able to tolerate a sudden change in his environment – the water’s temperature.
Then, try Frog B. Place him in a lukewarm water, then turn the gas stove on.
Wait until the water reaches a certain boiling point. Frog B then thinks “Ooh… it’s a bit warm in here”.
People are like Frog B in general.
Today, Anna thinks Carl hates her.
Tomorrow, Patrick walks up to her and told her he hates her.
Anna stays the same and doesn’t mind her what her friends says.
The next day, she learned that Kim and John also abhor her.
Anna doesn’t realize beforehand the importance and the need for self-improvement until the entire community hates her.
We learn our lessons when we experience pain. We finally see the warning signs and signals when things get rough and tough.
When do we realize that we need to change diets? When none of our jeans and shirts would fit us.
When do we stop eating candies and chocolates? When all of our teeth has fallen off.
When do we realize that we need to stop smoking? When our lungs have gone bad.
When do we pray and ask for help? When we realize that we’re gonna die tomorrow.
The only time most of us ever learn about unlocking our self-improvement power is when the whole world is crashing and falling apart.
We think and feel this way because it is not easy to change. But change becomes more painful when we ignore it.
The change will happen, like it or hate it. At one point or another, we are all going to experience different turning points in our life – and we are all going to eventually unlock our self-improvement power.
It is not because the world says so, not because our friends are nagging us, but because we realized its for our own good.
Happy people don’t just accept change, they embrace it.
Now, you don’t have to feel a tremendous heat before realizing the need for self-improvement.
Unlocking your self-improvement power means unlocking yourself up in the cage of thought that “it’s just the way I am”.
It is such a poor excuse for people who fear and resist change. Most of us program our minds like computers.
Self-improvement may not be everybody’s favorite word, but if we look at things in a different point of view, we might have greater chances of enjoying the whole process instead of counting the days until we are fully improved.
Three sessions in a week at the gym would result to a healthier life, reading books instead of looking at magazines will shape up a more profound knowledge. Going out with friends and peers will help you take a step back from work and unwind.
And just when you are enjoying the whole process of unlocking your self-improvement power, you’ll realize that you’re beginning to take things light and become happy.
7-Step Program to Self-Improvement
There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem in spite of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self.
What does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.
Day 1: Know your purpose
Are you wandering through life with little direction – hoping that you’ll find happiness, health, and prosperity?
Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.
This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there’s always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.
Step 2: Know your values
What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning.
As you set your goals for 2005 – check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn’t align with any of your top five values – you may want to reconsider it or revise it.
The number shouldn’t discourage you. Instead, it should motivate you to do more than you can ever dream of.
Step 3: Know your needs
Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself.
Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved?
There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter.
List your top four needs and get them met before it’s too late!
Step 4: Know your passion
You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life.
Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be.
Express yourself and honor the people who have inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.
Step 5: Live from the inside out
Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind.
For most of us city slickers it’s hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home.
In my case, I often just sit in a dimly lit room and play some classical music. There’s sound, yes, but music does soothe the savage beast.
Step 6: Honor your strengths
What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have?
List three – if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these.
Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands?
Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.
Step 7: Serve others
When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being.
When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit – your essence.
The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them.
Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn’t always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room.
The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.