What Keeps You From Growing as an Individual?
Self-Doubt
I think it’s safe to say that the best killer of persuasion is self-doubt and lack of self-confidence. After all, it’s hard to pursue a goal if you do not believe that you can achieve it. On the contrary, if you have a strong belief in yourself, the external factors are not enough to affect your decisions. If you are your number one fan, it will also be easier for others to believe in you too.
Sometimes, more than we notice, it’s easier to doubt ourselves. Perhaps our past failures and shortcomings are there haunting us continuously. And in turn, you end up reminding yourself what’s the point of trying if you failed before.
Our fears of failures and rejections are so powerful that they can keep us from even starting. What’s worse is that you might get used to this mindset that having the opposite feels foreign. So before that happens, you have to stop yourself from being pessimistic. How will you be able to do that?
You might be focusing on the outcome too much. And what happens is that you visualize the negative and how exhausting the path towards it. What works for me is the habit of knowing when and what to let go. Things have happened, and words have been said. You have been hurt and disappointed before, so don’t let the past rob you of your future.
When you believe and feel proud of yourself, you won’t need validations from other people. Your self-esteem isn’t in the hands of other people. Remember that the world will not walk on eggshells around you. And it is very unhealthy if you seek comfort and approval from the environment if your internal environment is shaky to start with.
Overconfidence
Besides the lack of self-confidence, another common belief that you might indulge in is that you don’t need to learn more. Your overconfidence validates that you deserve to feel entitled. If you are not open to accepting your mistakes and imperfections, you are also preventing yourself from being the better version of you. Think about it; if the artist is already satisfied with an unfinished painting, the painting will stay that way.
Know and accept that it’s okay to ask for questions and help. If you exercise your mind by sharing thoughts and ideas with other people, you’re also growing and learning more. It is one thing to be proud of yourself, but too much of it is also not good.
People will also end up expecting too much of you. Instead of helping each other learn and grow, you might not be taken seriously because you’ll seem like someone who just brags. At the same time, make sure your judgment doesn’t have a bias.
Even if you started as the smartest guy or gal in the room, someone who continuously reads, questions, and listens would eventually overtake you. Trust me, you’ll notice that you’ll get a better insight into those around you by simply listening and maintaining an open mind.
And lastly, don’t be afraid to apologize and accept your mistakes and shortcomings. I know that it’s difficult to own them, but you’ll feel much lighter letting them go. Taking responsibility for your errors is an attribute that begets respect and trust. And not only with other people, but you’ll also be forgiving yourself when you accept your mistakes.
Habits That You Should Stop ASAP
Stagnancy
Immobility is one of the most powerful enemies of self-growth and achieving goals. Oftentimes, what happens is that if our pace is too slow, we think that we aren’t moving and getting close to our desires. But in reality, movement is still movement regardless of the pace. So instead of stopping because you don’t immediately notice progress, please just keep on moving.
Another habit related to stagnancy is the lack of goals and motivation. It’s hard to wake up every day and look forward to it if you have no idea what you want to be and have. However, I don’t blame you if you have difficulty in realizing what you want in life. Some people will take a long time to understand and know what they want.
What might happen is this lack of uncertainty of goals can also cause you to fall in a cycle of self-doubt. You might not even try new things, or you might doubt yourself from taking a step forward because you’re uncertain if the sacrifices will be worth it. But let me tell you this, even if you haven’t arrived at the destination yet, the fact that you’re moving means that you’re already winning.
And when you discover your passion, be realistic. Do not overwhelm yourself with expectations of what you want. Do not compare your timeline with those of other people because we are all in different playing levels. Define your goals to get a clear idea and then divide the steps towards it into smaller doable chunks.
Unhealthy Practices
Your health plays a significant role in helping you achieve your desires. Imagine how many limitations you’ll get if you don’t feel good mentally and physically. As you can see in this guide, something as simple as drinking alkaline water is beneficial for your health. Cutting sugary drinks and drinking clean and fresh water is a good start to detox and feel much better every day.
What about the food you eat and how much sleep you’re getting? If you feel exhausted and stressed from the discomfort of illnesses, it’s impossible to perform at your best and focus on the tasks at hand. Remember to eat well, exercise, and have enough rest to make sure you are at your best mode every day.
If the lack of exercise and healthy foods are unhealthy for the body and mind, there is also another habit that is unhealthy for the soul. I’m pretty sure we are all guilty of procrastinating. And I also know that deep down, we are aware of its effects in the future.
Nowadays, it’s so easy to get distracted. It feels so much better to put something off and just do other things instead. However, you have to stop procrastination, or perhaps, start procrastinating smartly.
What I mean by this is that you can still enjoy some play and use breaks for breathing. However, use your procrastinating time as an opportunity to do something else that your future self will thank you for.
