We believe that everyone has greatness inside. Sometimes people just need to be reminded of their potential. So please consider this blog a friendly reminder that you were created for greatness and are gifted in so many ways. You just need to remember to unpack those gifts, develop them and use them with confidence.
When looking at someone that has created success in their life, family, or business, it’s easy to assume that they were able to create exceptional results because they have a “special something” that may feel that you don’t have. You may think their “special something” just comes naturally, but there is a very good chance they had to work to develop it. And if they can, you can too. People have the ability to learn new attitudes, mindsets, and skillsets. Growth and change usually don’t happen by accident. You need to first decide who you want to be and how you want to live. Then simply take a close look at yourself and look for areas to work on and improve. It may also be helpful to share those intentional growth points with your trusted coach or mentor and get their perspective. Ask them what they think of your growth points list and see if they have any suggestions to help you reach your development goals.
Here are four points that will help you develop yourself and your life!
Focus on Personal Development
Do you ever feel stagnant in life or feel like you are moving in slow motion? This may be because you are overly interested in other people’s journeys rather than focusing on your own. Comparing your journey and results to others can be dangerous, discouraging, and frustrating. The feeling that you always need to keep up with others can be a major distraction and can keep you from moving forward in your own life. This is even backed up by research. This study done by Stephen R. Swallow and Nicholas A. Kuiper says that making social comparisons leads to negative views about oneself. This negatively affects your own self-image and progress in life, creating a despicable domino effect that leads to even more people clicking “pause” or “stop” on their own personal development. So, instead of obsessing over what others are doing, get laser-focused on what you can control and what you need to do. Decide to focus on your own journey and appreciate each and every step you take towards your dreams.
Define Your WHY (Dreams & Goals)
Have you ever lost passion or motivation when trying to accomplish something? If you answered yes, there is a good chance that you didn’t have a clear picture of the results that you are striving to accomplish in your mind. If you want to stay fired up and passionate about the work you are doing make sure to focus on your Why (Dreams & Goals). When you connect your Why to the work you are doing, you will feel much more passionate about doing the work. You become passionate about the work because the work leads to your Why.
For Example: Why am I going to do _________ work today?
Because I am working towards __________ results!
Having a clear awareness of your Why can provide the strength you need to keep going even amidst difficulties.
Expand Your World
You can do it! Maybe you have created a space that feels calm and pleasant, but there is a good chance that “your happy place” is also preventing you from advancing in your life. To keep growing, you need to be willing to embrace change and step out of your comfort zone. Be brave enough to try things that are beyond your expertise or interests. Mingle with people who are not from your usual social circle. You may be surprised at all the amazing things you can discover by making a decision to expand your world, both socially and mentally. Opening yourself up to the “no more comfort zone” mindset can help you find amazing gifts you didn’t know you had that would’ve gone unnoticed if you would’ve stayed in the same bubble!
Stop Chasing Perfection
Excellence is a great concept but you may think it means doing something without fault and it doesn’t. Of course, it is important to try your best, have standards, and minimize errors, but it is even more important to understand that perfectionism can be a huge waste of time. Insisting to make everything flawless can create unattainable and unrealistic standards that can hamper rather than hasten your growth. It can also create unrealistic fear of taking any kind of risk because you want to avoid failure. So if you find yourself overthinking or dealing with fear it might be because you have some perfectionist tendencies.
Well, I’m here to tell you that you can choose to turn it down a notch. You might not realize that you can do that, but you can. I know because I used to be a perfectionist, but realized that it was wasting so much time and it was driving myself and the people around me a little crazy. So I made the decision to turn it down from a 10 out of 10 on the perfectionist scale, to about a 7 out of 10. Being at about a 7 left me with good standards, but also gave me permission to make some mistakes. This in turn removed overthinking and fear which was amazing! You may feel like mistakes and failures are painful, however, they open doors to awareness and growth. So give yourself a break. Life and success aren’t about perfection, it’s about progression.
With the right attitude and mindset, everything that happens in your life is an opportunity to learn and grow. Positive personal development can start with a firm decision to eliminate or change attitudes that may be serving as barriers to your personal growth. So, instead of staying stagnant or stuck in the same place, get excited about changing yourself so you can change your life!
Awesome nuggets for personal growth here! Personal growth precedes business growth!
Such a profound, yet simple way of getting past perfectionist thinking- THANK YOU😀👏
Freeing not only for adults but for those children that have that mindset!
“Being at a 7 left me with good standards, but also gave me permission to make some mistakes” …. spoke to me … thank you!!
Good stuff, solid action steps. Thanks so much!
Thank you David & Jaimee.
Your perspective on Chasing Perfectionism and Focusing on your own Personal Development really helps me.
Fantastic blog post! I loved the part about how our comfort zone can hold us back. I personally have found doing things intentionally just to make myself comfortable have often led to extremely negative consequences. We should always be moving forward. Thank you for this great perspective!!
Love this post! I’ve often struggled with perfectionism and it’s only held me back, stunted progress, and caused a lot of frustration. I’m so happy my mentors have helped me through this struggle. Just two words….. STOP IT!!!