You are awesome!! 10 Tips for Personal Development

We have all met that person… the one that can handle anything, who is never flustered, who is respected by all, who is kind, who seems to do everything right, and manages to do it all with a smile on their face. Wow – that person is the epitome of awesomeness.

Personal development means we do not let our past determine our future…

It may seem like a stretch at times to picture ourselves in such light.  After all, we are our own worst critics the overwhelming majority of the time. We beat ourselves up for how we look, for our failures, for bad decisions – you name it.

However, our past does not define our future. Everyone can start to make progress – making better choices in our health, our relationships, and pretty much all aspects of our daily operations. Personal development all starts with a choice.

With that in mind, here are ten easy tips you can choose to implement to improve your personal development and become more awesome:

1. Surround yourself with positive people

   I have a few friends who have an incredibly funny, self-deprecating sense of humor. While it can provide a few laughs, after a while the negativity is too much. Spend the majority of your time with people who are uplifting and benefit from the positive impact.

2. Make eye contact with others

   Personal connections are so much greater and more fulfilling when you are able to connect by looking people in the eyes. The simple act of making eye contact when meeting someone, or conversing with them, can make a world of difference about how everyone feels about themselves and about the conversation.

3. Learn something new

   It should be a goal of everyone to learn new things every day. If your mind is not growing, it is dying. Staying mentally sharp will only increase confidence and awesomeness.

4. Take action

   It is so easy to fall into the trap of merely complaining about our problems. Unfortunately, nobody likes a complainer. So buckle up and take action to find solutions rather than excuses.

5. Create a foundation of good health

   Without good health, it is difficult to feel amazing about out lives. Get a solid foundation of good health by eating right, exercising at least 4-5 times a week, and getting enough sleep.

6. Spoil yourself occasionally

   It is slightly contrary to #5, but you should occasionally indulge in a gluttonous meal, an ‘over the top’ dessert, or a night of partying like you are 21 again with your friends. You have to reward yourself for all the hard work you have been putting in to become awesome.

7. Unplug for a while

   You can’t be available 24/7. It just isn’t healthy. Put the phone away, stop checking email, you don’t have to return that text right now. Does anyone remember the days before we were married to our phones?Sometimes we just aren’t available… for our own sanity.

8. Stop caring so much about what others think

   When we were kids, we didn’t care what anybody thought about us. We just did our deal and life was grand. Until at some point, we placed too much value on other people’s opinions of our lives. Embrace the kid-like spirit that is still inside you.

9. Become a member of a team or group

   Being an individual is important, but we must balance that with figuring out how to work well with others. Team sports, certain clubs or associations, and all sorts of organizations promote the togetherness and camaraderie of working together towards a goal.

10. Above all, forgive yourself

    Nobody is perfect, and that includes Mr. and Mrs. Awesome. Everybody makes mistakes. Remember that you, too, are awesome. Learn from it, become better and move on.