For some people, the need for self-development may lie in a health aspect of their physical being, while others simply want to be more personally satisfied with their appearances.
If you want to look better for yourself and for those around you, then you might try some of these options:
•Assess your current weight and see if you’re at a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index). If not, devise a workout and diet regimen designed to help you reach those goals.
•Update your look with a new haircut. Some people have the same hairstyle they had a decade ago, and once they allow the stylist the freedom to bring them up to date, hey feel years younger.
•Take care of your nails. When you go to shake hands with someone and your bitten nails and cuticles are the first thing you present to someone, it doesn’t reflect well on you. Manicures are not expensive, and you can easily learn how to take care of your hands at home.
•Moisturize your body. It’s the largest organ you have – your skin – and yet we abuse it with suntans and harsh chemicals. Every day, moisturize your face, neck, and the rest of your body and soon you’ll appear younger and more refreshed.
•Go for a makeup lesson. We sometimes get in a rut with the way we do things. Go to a makeup counter at a department store and have them give you a makeup lesson. You may feel fresher once you learn that you’ve been applying your eyeliner too heavily or that your stark red lipstick is making your fine lines show up whereas a more muted color gives you a flawless appearance.
•Update your wardrobe. You don’t have to spend a small fortune, but every once in awhile, add a new piece of clothing to your wardrobe that’s current and timeless in nature. Shop when things are sale and buy clothes that fit you well.
If health is your main concern, then you’ll want to address any issues that you’ve neglected lately. Some people put off going to the doctor – especially if they’re just run down and tired all of the time.
Schedule a well check up with your physician to rule out any thyroid problems, diabetes and chronic fatigue issues. You want to make sure that your iron levels are up to par, too, since that can cause a depletion of energy.
Some report a more healthful feeling when they adhere to a holistic strategy like Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a rhythmic movement that helps you achieve a sense of peacefulness. The goal is to focus on the present and not on stressful situations that occurred earlier or that you’re worrying will happen soon.
You could look into herbal supplements to help you with stress, depression, and energy, too. Certain herbs like cayenne, Siberian ginseng, gotu kola and Ginkgo biloba helps with energy levels and in staving off depression.
Always check with an herbal expert before using herbs on your own or combining them with your current medications, since they can have adverse reactions in certain combinations.
Putting Your Self Development Plan to Work for You
As you embark on this journey to better yourself, you’re going to encounter a lot of friction. Sometimes with yourself and sometimes with others. You may second guess yourself about some of the big changes you’re making, and it’ll be hard because you’ll be getting out of your comfort zone.
Sometimes you’ll be moving along content in your journey and someone will chime in with their opinions about what you should or shouldn’t be doing and telling you how to do it better.
Be grateful that they care enough to provide you with their insight, thank them, and them continue on your path as you see fit. You don’t need to engage in an argument with someone who isn’t aware of every element you’re dealing with in your life.
Work on one self-development goal at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to look perfect, have an optimistic attitude 100% of the time, rake in tons of monetary wealth and make everyone like you in one day.
Pick the area you feel needs the most work and chip away at it until you’ve mastered it to your own personal satisfaction. Then move on to the next most important goal you have in mind and work on that.
Don’t be afraid to admit one tactic didn’t work for you and then try something else. For example, you might try counseling and end up feeling awkward talking to a stranger. Then you try self-hypnosis and you feel more in touch with yourself than ever before!
You may choose to share your self-development journey with others. This is fine as long as the person you’re sharing with won’t turn the tables on you whenever you falter. For example, if you tell your mom that you’re going on a diet to lose 20 pounds, and then she raises an eyebrow when you have a brownie at a family get together, or scolds you, it can hamper your results.
Becoming a better person means you need to first think about what kind of person you want to be. Don’t set unrealistic expectations of yourself. Make your goals doable and easy at first and work on the harder issues as time goes on.
Soon, you’ll feel great about the life that you’re living and the person that you’ve become. And you can spread the word to others who are in the same boat about how you changed your life and achieved the kind of success you’ve always wanted.
Although that throughout the book I refer you to some useful external websites and books, however, I highly recommend you visit BestCorporateAcademy website to take advantage of their valuable FREE online courses for further personal development and corporate training.
PART ONE: HEALTH & MENTAL DEVELOPMENT
Week 1: Health and Fitness
Spiritual and Physical Exercises, Yoga, Law of Attraction, Affirmation Messages, Voice Practice
Success without fitness is a possibility, but it will be limited. It’s true that you can ignore either your physical or mental fitness and yet find success, however, you need a sound mind and a healthy body if you desire truly great results in all areas of your life.
You will find that people who reach goals with regular success are mostly mentally and physically fit. They're always at least one or the other, usually both. They know the real advantages that fitness produces.
If you want to stay upright, good health is the bare minimum. Maintaining your status quo isn’t the only thing fitness makes you do; it also gives you a head start.
The more you feel like taking on the world, the more fit you are. Fitness makes living with more zing and power a possibility as it builds energy. Going after your passions and goals is easy with this.
You’re not going to get much done if you’re constantly dragging and yawning. You will never be successful if you do that.
Good fitness isn’t where sustained action sucks the energy out of you till there’s nothing left, rather it is a self-replenishing energy source which avoids it from happening. Action is what you require to fulfill your mission and achieve your goal.
You may not be a lazy person if you believe in procrastination. It’s the right energy at the right time to take that action that you lack. Imagine living with more energy all the time instead of waiting for it to happen. If you let yourself live with more energy, here are some things you’ll have:
•A jump in your step,
•Eagerness to get started,
•Preference for action,
•Ability to get up in the morning, and
•Power to keep going after a hard day's work.