40 personal development goals that will make you happier

Adviсe

• A little theory
• Goals of self-development and personal growth
• Self-development and personal growth in career
• Self-development in studies
• Personal growth in private life
• Stages of self-development and personal growth

The desire to live better, to have a strong family, and financial wealth visits each of us. To achieve your goals, you need to develop, learn, and work on yourself. This path is not easy and involves going through several stages. The main thing is to move forward and take steps every day leading to achieving your goal. A person comes to self-development and personal growth with different experiences and state of mind. Therefore, work on oneself occurs individually for each person. Let's figure out what self-development gives, and what impact does personal growth have on a person's life?

A little theory

There is a statement that self-development and personal growth are one and the same. Indeed, they walk side by side and lead to a common goal. Self-development is understood as a person’s actions, which he carries out without pressure or interference from third parties. It is a conscious process aimed at achieving clear goals or beliefs.

Personal growth is a concept used in psychology. It means developing a person’s certain qualities and acquiring skills that improve specific areas of life. This includes social, financial, cultural and other areas. The main task of personal growth and self-development is to increase a person’s potential and high performance in selected areas of life.

From these two concepts a conclusion emerges. Actions are carried out in a specific direction. To achieve results, a self-development plan is drawn up. It includes actions that a person must carry out. This includes reading books on self-development, watching films on personal growth, and taking trainings.

Self-actualization

Self-actualization is the desire for maximum realization of opportunities, disclosure of personal potential. And you cannot achieve it against your own will, according to the instructions of others.

Self-actualization contributes to:

• harmonization of internal state;
• stabilization of intrapersonal conflicts;
• independence from the value judgments of others;
• freedom;
• personal responsibility without imposing rigid frameworks from the outside.

The ultimate goal of self-development is a kind of ideal, which is sometimes impossible to achieve, but the individual’s striving along this vector develops it in the right direction and improves its positive qualities.

Self-actualization is closely related to self-realization, social recognition, organization of life path, as well as the needs of:

• security;
• self-affirmation;
• self-expression;
• cognitive sphere;
• communication;
• aesthetics, culture, spirituality.

To activate the process of self-improvement, it is important to realize the need to change oneself.

Goals of self-development and personal growth

Today there are skeptics who claim that self-development is a waste of time. Such thoughts arise in lazy people or individuals without a goal. They live life automatically. They wake up in the morning, then go to work, come back, have dinner and fall asleep to the sound of the TV. It’s much more convenient to live and not think about anything. In this case, you should not complain about your financial situation, personal failures or lack of career growth.

Self-development and personal growth help achieve the following goals :

• Formation of awareness . It begins with the release of an automatic life model. When a person begins to ask himself questions, evaluate from the outside, and draw conclusions. Awareness gradually develops. A person accepts the present and corrects it, rather than living in the past or basking in the hopes of the future. By influencing certain character traits, a person develops and acquires new skills.
• Relevant to the current day . The second target emerges from the first. The search for information leads a person to study various subjects, knowledge, and master new skills. The modern pace of life is fast, interesting and technologically complex. To keep up with the times, keep an eye on the changes that are happening in the world. Everyday work allows a person to keep up with the times. Such skills help you to be a sought-after specialist at work and a good conversationalist.
• Comprehensive development . When pursuing personal growth, don't focus on one topic. Narrow specialization makes a person limited and boring. Be interested in a little bit of everything. You don't have to spend a lot of time for this. Instead of watching TV, look through the news section in the world of culture, science, and technology. Thanks to the accumulated knowledge, you will be able to start a conversation with a stranger and become the life of the party. Comprehensive development helps with employment.

People who engage in self-development achieve goals and understand their purpose in life. At the same time, they pump up other areas: health, proper nutrition, spiritual fulfillment. Personal growth leads to getting rid of bad habits, organization, and improving relationships with loved ones.

What do you look like, target? The main nuances in achieving what you want

The goal may be different. Examples of a person’s personal goals are divided into many categories, and can provide an opportunity to determine one’s own goal of success. The process of identifying a target can be quite long, as the period can vary from a week to 10 years. One person needs a couple of days to understand what he wants from life, while another needs five years to realize that, for example, he loves someone or can only do one thing in life.

In this matter, everything is individual.

Defining personal goals begins at a young age. Already at school, the child understands what he likes most and what he hates. His inclinations towards mathematics or history, chemistry or physics are manifested. The school period helps to identify talents and determine the future course in life by 60%.

In youth, setting personal goals is complicated by the desires and advice of parents. For example, a mother sees her son as a successful lawyer or economist, but he wants to be an archaeologist and go to excavations. It will be difficult for him to set a goal and defend it against his parents’ wishes.

In adulthood, life and personal goals already take on more or less clear outlines.

How can they be definitively determined and delivered? There are a number of activities that can help you set your personal goals.

Psychology offers the following course of action:

• make a list of your dreams, talents, desires and try to understand how to achieve what you want with the help of your talent;
• think about the place you are in and compare it to where you want to be. Does not match? Go ahead, make an escape plan;
• think about your skills: are they executive, organizational or ideological? If you are good at organizing, go in this direction; if you are a performer, go in another direction; if you are an ideologist, go in another direction;
• think about a big goal. Maybe you want to buy a yacht and go on a cruise around the world? Perhaps you want to create a useful medicine? Break a large goal into many small ones and you will be able to get closer to it much faster.

The main thing is not to limit yourself, and achieving your personal goals will be very close.

Self-development and personal growth in career

There are many demands placed on the modern employee. The main qualities are resistance to stress, the ability to adapt to different working conditions, and the right psychological attitude. At the same time, not every manager is ready to send a new employee to training and education, preparing valuable personnel. We need employees who can join the team from day one.

To compete in your job search, seek information, develop skills, and attend professional events and seminars. Personal growth in your career gives the following results :

• conscious choice of profession and idea of ​​work;
• quick and confident decision making;
• understanding what qualities to develop for career advancement;
• competitiveness, advantageous positions when searching for work on a competitive basis;
• the ability to present yourself correctly during an interview.

Self-development involves studying information in a specific area. Fresh knowledge helps develop expertise. A person acquires related skills: the ability to plan a day and solve work problems.

Where to begin

Chinese wisdom says that the longest journey of a thousand miles begins with one first step.

If you are reading this article, then you have already taken the first step towards self-development - you have realized the importance of this process and have firmly decided to change for the better. But what to do next? Make a clear action plan

Arm yourself with a pen and notepad, think about what you are striving for, what goals you set for yourself, what you want to change in yourself, what qualities to cultivate. You can arrange all this in the form of a regular list or table; if you are a creative person, create a wish card or a creative organizer. Write down absolutely everything, it is extremely important to record your thoughts on paper - in addition to the fact that visualizing desires is an excellent visual reminder, it also contributes to the development of imagination.

Look at your plan more often, imagine the final result, add new points, cross out already completed columns. Looking at the rapidly changing plan of your life, you will clearly see what work has already been done on yourself. Along with this will come self-confidence and the desire for new achievements. So a written plan, in fact, is also a good motivation.

Self-development in studies

Every person goes through compulsory education, developing and gaining certain knowledge. After schooling, the road leads to higher education institutions. Here it is worth showing interest in choosing a profession and focusing your actions on in-depth study of core subjects. Obtaining a diploma is the first serious step towards personal development.

Self-development in studies gives positive results :

• a person learns to focus on classes;
• gains first skills in motivation;
• participates in the learning process, does not go with the flow, but makes a conscious choice;
• enjoys studying and easily learns the material, since he learns of his own free will.

The institutes pay attention to the development of speed of thinking (critical and analytical). As a result, the educational process is smooth and interesting. The student gains knowledge that he can apply in various life situations.

Where to start Motivation

In order to engage in self-development, you need motivation. Without motivation, you will abandon your endeavors within a week.

Determine why exactly you want to engage in self-development.

Which books to start self-development with?

1. "The Path to Financial Independence" by Bodo Schaefer.
2. “Smile before it’s too late”, Alexander Sviyash.
3. "Get Out of Your Comfort Zone" by Brian Tracy.
4. Eat, Move, Sleep by Tom Rath.
5. "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.
6. "Money. Master of the Game, Anthony Robbins.
7. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
8. "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki.
9. "The Magic of the Morning" by Al Halrod.
10. "Cash Flow Quadrant" by Robert Kiyosaki.
11. “Mani, or the ABC of Money”, Bodo Schaefer.
12. "One Habit a Week" by Brett Blumenthal.
13. "The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss.
14. "The Richest Man in Babylon" by George Clason.
15. "Millionaire in a Minute", Hansen, Mark Victor, Robert Allen.
16. The Miracle of Fasting by Paul Bragg.
17. "The Psychology of Sales" by Brian Tracy.
18. "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey.
19. "Time Drive", Gleb Arkhangelsky.
20. "The Psychology of Influence" by Robert Cialdini.
21. "To hell with all of it! Go ahead and do it!” Richard Branson.
22. "Geniuses and Outsiders" by Malcolm Gladwell.
23. “Blue Zones. 9 Rules for Longevity by Dan Buettner.
24. “It’s not harmful to dream,” Barbara Sher.
25. "Happiness Hormones" by Loretta Breuning.

Personal growth in private life

Relationships between a man and a woman require effort. As a person develops, he gains new knowledge about his personal life and applies it. Relationships become stronger and healthier. It’s great if your significant other is interested in self-development. The support of a loved one helps to achieve goals and form a holistic personality.

Personal growth in private life leads to the following results :

• a person understands himself and loved ones more deeply;
• the fear of building romantic or friendly relationships goes away;
• a person opens up, makes contact more easily, conflicts less with his other half, as understanding of actions comes;
• self-development opens up new sides of loved ones.

A person develops an understanding of family, his role and responsibilities. The knowledge gained helps during current relationships, plus reveals ways for further action. Difficult decisions are made: divorce, search for a new partner, and others.

Methods of personality development: biography of great people

Studying the biographies of historical figures and contemporaries helps not only to identify the patterns that led them to success. In many cases, this method gives a charge of motivation, an example of courage and perseverance in any life circumstances. Every person has fear within them at the genetic level.

It is needed in order to protect a person from inevitable death every time. People no longer live in caves, and their lives no longer hang in the balance depending on the decisions of the community. But fears of all kinds - from phobias to social fears - sit deep in every person. All methods of personality development, one way or another, have as their goal overcoming inappropriate fear in a person.

It can be difficult for the modern generation to understand that the habit of heroism can be trained. Samurai, scientists burned for the truth - they all appear before us like shadows of the past. But history has thousands of examples of human heroism. Studying the biographies of both successful people and historical heroes is a powerful method that will allow you to look at life from a slightly different perspective. After all, for the majority, heroism is a gift that is given to a few. Not every artist becomes Raphael, and not every scientist becomes Einstein. Only a few athletes become champions.

But it’s worth studying the biographies of great people in more detail, and it turns out that leadership, intellectual development of the individual, and heroism are the work of ordinary people of flesh and blood. “It was not the gods who fired the pots,” said the ancient Greeks. Consider, for example, the inspiring story of Podolsk cadets - an example of the greatest feat, the result of which was the salvation of the Russian capital from the fascist invaders.

Stages of self-development and personal growth

Banal curiosity, reading books and watching motivating films will not lead to results. To make changes in life, you have to work hard. To do this, go through the required stages of self-development and personal growth:

• Acceptance of the current situation . Analyze what you have today, what you are not satisfied with, what knowledge you plan to gain.
• The desire to act . Draw a portrait of the new person you want to become. Describe your strengths and weaknesses. Set a specific goal for what you want to achieve.
• Implementation . To reach your goal, take small steps every day. Believe in success, repeat that everything will work out, and you will achieve results.

• Be prepared for a thorny path. Achievements and mistakes are entirely yours. Do not shift responsibility for failures to third parties. Analysis of mistakes and awareness of wrong actions is proof of self-development.

Personal growth is a journey that has a beginning but no end. Once you begin to develop, you will acquire harmony of soul and body. You will be able to understand people, build harmonious relationships with others. Take a step towards yourself, life will become more interesting and richer.

Never give up

The process of self-development is not easy; it requires a lot of effort and emotional investment from a person who has seriously decided to change himself for the better. This is constant hard work on yourself. Therefore, it is not surprising that sometimes breakdowns, stressful situations are possible, or apathy and indifference to others and oneself simply sets in. The most important rule in this situation is not to give up and not give up!

Recommendations to help you cope with the problems that arise

• Mistakes and failures actually only help you. Thanks to them you gain experience. Also, do not forget that a negative result is also a result. The main thing is not to be idle.
• Believe in yourself! Always, under any circumstances, tell yourself “I can do it, I will succeed!” After all, if you yourself do not believe in your strength, how can others see your self-confidence.
• Remember that we are given only such tests that we can endure. If a situation seems insoluble to you, do not rush to give up on it - perhaps your subconscious has such hidden resources that you were not previously aware of. You just need to wait a little and give them the opportunity to manifest themselves.
• As long as a person remains alive, he is always able to change everything. The only reason to give up and remain inactive is death. Everything else can be fixed.
• Don't forget about the people who are always ready to support you in difficult times. These are your family and close friends. Don’t avoid communicating with them, don’t try to deal with your difficulties alone - ask for advice from those around you, believe me, your family will be only too happy to lend a helping hand.
• Be inspired by other people's examples. If someone has already achieved similar goals, achieved the success you desire, then why can’t you do the same.
• Sometimes all you need is just a day off. Perhaps the body was exhausted from constant stress and demanded its well-deserved rest through a nervous breakdown. Don’t create such situations, allow yourself to relax and get distracted.
• It's better to regret what you did than what you didn't do. Don't miss opportunities so that you don't regret inaction later.
• Remember that you are part of a huge society. And if your personality becomes better in the process of self-development, then the whole society, the whole environment also changes in a positive direction. By changing yourself, you change the world.