Our thoughts heavily influence our unique perception of the world and our experiences. These thoughts, in turn, shape our mindset, which affects our behaviors, choices, and, ultimately, our personal growth. These three habits can help us continue the journey of self-growth without becoming stuck in a self-defeating and closed-minded way of thinking.
Accepting the Here and Now
Living in the present is a liberating journey, empowering us to take control of our lives. It allows us to break free from past regrets and the anxiety of an unforeseen future. Choosing to live in the present moment is like being in the driver’s seat of a car with access only to the windshield in front of us, without a rearview mirror to distract us from what we left behind. This empowerment encourages us to navigate our lives with confidence and a lesser need for control.
Similarly, the future is unknown and cannot be altered. No matter how many scenarios we create to prepare for it, it will still surprise us.
Allowing our present circumstances to run their course is challenging, especially when things aren’t going our way. Comforting words from family and friends, assuring us that things will work out in the end or that everything happens for a reason, sound believable. However, when we find ourselves alone, we can’t allow our fears to take us down the rabbit hole of doubt and the desire to fix and change things to appease our worries.
When we’re open to the lessons behind the present challenges, we discover new levels of ourselves. Even the most difficult situations can be a source of valuable lessons if we step back and allow things to happen in their course. Having our minds fixed on only one outcome prevents us from realizing our potential and appreciating new things.
I remember when I found myself lost in an unfamiliar place, angry with myself for getting distracted on the road only to discover a new and enjoyable place I now go out of the way to visit. Or when I was disappointed after being turned down for a job, but later on, I was offered an even better position.
No matter how uncertain our circumstances may seem at the present moment, we need to train our minds to make the best of each day and believe everything will work out in our favor.
Continuing to Learn New Things
Learning new skills and concepts keeps our lives exciting and gives us a sense of accomplishment. It also stimulates different areas of our brains, which can help strengthen our cognition and slow down the memory decline that comes with aging.
When we consider cases of Alzheimer’s, a higher number of people are being diagnosed at a younger age. The more we continue learning new things, the more effectively our brains will function.
Continuously learning new ideas and concepts allows us to be more flexible in finding creative ways to solve everyday tasks. It can ultimately open doors to many opportunities. We may be prompted to switch careers, explore new hobbies, and make new friends along the way.
Access to new information allows us to adapt to new situations in our personal and professional lives by enabling us to view things from different perspectives. When confronted with a conflict, either with a family member or co-worker, the more perspectives we have, the easier it is to understand their point of view and increase the chances of effective conflict resolution. It also allows us to make informed choices regarding social and political issues that ultimately affect our everyday lives.
Having More Fun
The importance of having fun and enjoying what we love is often underrated. We postpone or do not do these things because we are too busy or feel guilty for taking time for ourselves. We usually see it as a waste of time or procrastination, but the benefits of allowing ourselves to take a break from our everyday routine have long-term benefits for our health. When we laugh and have fun, the brain releases dopamine and serotonin, which reduce stress and help us sleep better. Our outlook towards life changes more positively.
When we do activities we love and have fun, we become more in tune with who we are and learn new things about ourselves. Whether it’s attending live webinars, reading a book, taking cooking classes, or taking short trips, whatever it may be, we need that time to allow our minds to step out of the cruise control mode that we are forced to operate in during the work week.
Sometimes, all it takes is to pause and take in what’s happening in our surroundings. Stopping to watch the bright hues of a fall sunset or observing how a bird carefully selects small twigs to build its nest are simple things that can bring a smile to our faces and improve our moods.
Takeaway: Life was never meant for us to sit on the front porch and watch people go by unless we were listening to a PodCast. The more active we are on our journey to continuously learn new things about ourselves and our world, the greater our self-growth will be. Each year, before our next birthday, we should take some time for self-reflection and ask ourselves two questions: “What has this past year taught me?” and “Who am I today?”