The only person you can change and control is you. Yes, you’ve heard it a million times, I know. But it’s true.

As much as you want to “fix” the person you’re with, it doesn’t work that way. Improving your relationship starts with improving yourself for the better. That’s why personal growth matters. 

Chances are, you have an education and a career, and you’ve probably built a pretty good life for yourself too. 

But today, we’re talking about personal growth because you can have ALL of that and still not have a happy or fulfilling life. 

So, let’s get started.

What Is Personal Growth?

Working on accomplishing things in life, setting goals, and achieving them—that’s personal growth. It starts with the drive to do and be better. But it’s not so much about attaining more as becoming more. Achieving more is a natural process of becoming more.

The starting point is positive thinking and choosing an optimistic outlook to boost your resilience and keep you going, even when you don’t feel like it, and things don’t go your way.

But the beauty of personal growth is that it’s subjective. It’s different for everyone, like success. 

Some people define success as having a happy, healthy family. Others define it as having a career, maybe having more money and the ability to spend their time with whomever they wish and doing whatever they want whenever they want! 

To others, success is being 100% in control of their lives without anyone having any say. 

At its core, personal growth is all about constantly improving who you are as a person. Whatever you want from life and whatever it takes to get there is your personal growth journey. You have a blank page to create whatever kind of life and relationship that makes you happy and fulfilled.

To clear up any confusion, personal growth goes by several names, including:

• Self-improvement
• Personal development
• Self-growth
• Self-help

Why Does Personal Growth Matter?

Personal growth matters because growing and becoming a better version of yourself unlocks a better version of your life and relationships.

Your best tends to bring out the best in others. 

But sometimes, you outgrow where you are and who you’re with and have difficult choices to make. 

Growing as a person improves all aspects of your life. You become a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. You become more compassionate and loving. You’ll feel good about yourself and make others feel better about themselves as well.

Beginning Your Personal Growth Journey

One of the first steps in personal growth is setting and achieving short-term goals to create momentum and boost confidence. When creating goals, keep the following in mind:

• Make your goals realistic
• Divide long-term goals into several short-term milestones.
• Write each goal on a Post-It and put it where you’ll see it every day, like on the frig or bathroom mirror
• Embrace your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses
• And reward yourself each time you complete a goal

Keep Learning

Never stop learning. Keep an open mind. Step out of your comfort zone. 

Find something that ignites your interest and explore it.

Find Your Purpose

What makes you happy? Find what brings you joy and makes you feel life is worth living, aka your purpose in life. What drives and sets you apart from everyone else? Identify it. Go after it.

We’re all here for a reason. Find your purpose and start living it!

Wake Up Early

Getting adequate sleep regulates your physical, emotional, and mental states. You’ll feel energized and ready to tackle your day.

Studies show that people who have a habit of waking up early are healthier, happier, and more productive. It takes time to get used to, but once you do, you’ll never go back!

Read More

Engage your mind. Activate your thinking process. Watch less stuff on screens. Read more. 

Acquiring knowledge is extremely satisfying. Reading is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to boost self-confidence and ignite personal growth.

Be Self-Accepting

Celebrate what you’ve accomplished so far in life, and be confident in your drive and ability to achieve dreams that remain. Forgive yourself for past mistakes. Love who you are. Embrace each version of yourself as it unfolds. This is the first step to accepting who you are and appreciating your worth.

A Final Note

Embracing personal growth can mean the difference between having a fulfilling life and relationships or feeling lost, lonely, and empty.

No one wakes up saying they want to be less happy and more miserable today than yesterday. But that’s the reality many people are creating every day.

Being unhappy and miserable takes work and commitment, too; it’s just that we don’t see it that way. 

Putting forth the effort to make daily progress towards unlocking your best self and manifesting what you want is one of life’s keys to happiness.

Where do you start? With a positive outlook. Believe in yourself and what you can become. And see the best in others – especially your partner.

Embrace where you are and the journey ahead.

Live each day to unlock your best life and marriage; it’s going to be absolutely amazing!