It’s great to improve oneself. Getting better is… outstanding. Also, the more self-change you’ve accomplished, the more you’ll be able to accomplish in the future.
After all, you have the experience on your side. You got yourself out of a rut. You made good plans and mini-plans that worked. You enlisted the necessary support. You know that you can do it.
But this is all easier said than done! It’s hard to change oneself, period. I should know because I’ve spent a great deal of my life unsuccessfully trying to change myself and others.
Sometimes it seems like the most difficult task in life (which might be why many people give up on it).
Why you should improve yourself?
There are countless reasons why you should endeavor to improve yourself. Here are just a few:
- You’ll be happier and more content with life.
- You’ll have better relationships with others.
- You’ll be more successful in your career.
- You’ll be healthier and have more energy.
- You’ll be more resilient in the face of adversity.
- You’ll have a better sense of self-worth.
- You’ll be more fulfilled and satisfied with your life.
- You’ll live longer!
The bottom line is that self-improvement is worth the effort, no matter how hard it may be at times. The benefits are too great to ignore.
So don’t give up – keep working at it, and you’ll see positive changes in your life.
Why self improvement is hard?
There are a lot of reasons why self-improvement is so tough:
- Our old habits, thoughts, and ways of being are very comfortable and familiar to us. We’re creatures of habit, and it takes a lot of effort to break free from the ones that no longer serve us. In fact, sometimes it feels like we’re battling ourselves!
- We have a lot of Resistance to change. This comes from our fear of the unknown, and our fear of not being good enough. We worry that if we try to change, we’ll mess everything up and be worse off than we are now.
- We often don’t have a clear idea of what we want to change or how to change it. This can lead to a lot of confusion and frustration on our part.
- We set ourselves up for failure by expecting too much of ourselves. We want to change everything overnight, and when we don’t meet our unrealistic expectations, we give up.
- We get easily sidetracked by life’s distractions. There are always things demanding our attention, and it’s tough to stay focused on our goals.
- We don’t have enough support. This is especially true if we’re trying to change something that goes against the grain of our culture or society.
- We lack self-compassion. We’re hard on ourselves and don’t give ourselves enough credit for the progress we’ve made. This can keep us stuck in negative patterns of thinking and behaving.
How to overcome these challenges?
- Acknowledge that change is hard. It’s okay to feel resistance to change – it’s natural! Just remember that you can overcome it with effort and determination.
- Give yourself time to adjust. Change doesn’t happen overnight, so be patient with yourself and allow yourself time to experiment and learn.
- Make a plan. Figure out what you want to change and how you’re going to go about it. This will give you a roadmap to follow and will help keep you on track.
- Take small steps. Change doesn’t happen in one big leap, it happens gradually over time. Start with a small change and work your way up from there.
- Stay focused. When distractions come up, remind yourself why you’re trying to change and what the end goal is. This will help you stay on track.
- Seek support. If you’re having a hard time going it alone, find someone who can help you – a friend, family member, or therapist.
- Be kind to yourself. Give yourself credit for the progress you’ve made and don’t beat yourself up over your failures. Accept yourself for who you are, and work to make incremental changes from there.
Self improvement vs self acceptance
Self improvement and self acceptance are two different, but related concepts.
Self improvement involves trying to become a better person – improving our thoughts, behaviors, and habits. It’s about making changes in order to be happier and more successful.
Self acceptance, on the other hand, is about accepting ourselves for who we are – warts and all. It’s about acknowledging our flaws, but also our strengths and virtues. It’s about being okay with the fact that we’re not perfect, and that’s okay.
- Related post: How to Measure your Improvement and Why You Should Care
- Related post: Some Self Help Tips To Find Motivation
Which one is more important?
That’s a tough question because both are important in their own way. Ultimately, it depends on what you’re trying to achieve. If you’re looking to make changes in your life, then self improvement is key.
But if you’re already happy with who you are, then self acceptance is more important.
Both concepts are important though, and it’s important to embrace both of them. So don’t be afraid to work on self improvement, but don’t forget to accept yourself too.
Final Words
In conclusion, change is hard but it’s definitely doable. With effort and perseverance, you can overcome any obstacle in your way. So don’t give up – keep going, and you’ll eventually reach your goals.
Thank you for reading! I hope this article was helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. And if you enjoyed this article, please share it with your friends and family. Thank you!