Have you decided on how you want to grow in 2022? Here are proven strategies that can make this your best year yet, when it comes to your personal development.
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It’s that time of the year when people decide on new year resolutions and set goals directed at improving aspects of their lives. These goals, though well-intentioned, soon take the backburner as challenges of daily life come along. As legendary heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson once said, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. This article aims to give you a few pointers on how to send your personal growth and development through the roof in 2022.
You are probably thinking about making improvements to one or more aspects of your life but are concerned about your ability to follow through. You may even be struggling with what areas to tackle. Not to worry, as there are proven strategies, tools and tactics that can help you get clear on where you are now, where you want to be and how to get there both personally and professionally.
Firstly, we are going to discuss what personal growth and development really mean, and why it’s important. Afterward, we will talk about proven strategies you can apply to your own personal development journey.
What is personal growth and development?
Personal growth and development is the process of gaining a better awareness of yourself (physical, mental, professional, emotional, financial, and spiritual strengths and shortcomings) as well as pushing yourself to achieve your full potential. This process is frequently sparked by a significant life event that motivates you to improve yourself. It usually leads to a more fulfilling life.
Why is personal growth and development important?
There are several benefits to investing in your personal growth and development. Let’s look at 5 of them.
1. Productivity boost
Procrastination is the biggest threat to productivity. People who make personal improvement a way of life, have better chances of finding significant answers.
Stress is another impediment to productivity. Standards of perfection drive our increasingly frantic lives. Applying techniques for personal growth and development can boost your ability to be focused and manage stress well.
2. Better health
Our general health improves as we grow better at managing and reducing stress.
Personal growth and development tools and strategies help us get a deeper understanding of ourselves and our environment. This knowledge helps us properly deal with anything life throws our way.
3. Career success
If personal development becomes a regular feature of your lifestyle, you are more likely to succeed in your profession.
The most effective professionals are always learning and improving their competencies. This enables them to seize opportunities for advancement
4. Improved self-control
When it comes to defining and achieving life objectives, it's easy to get sidetracked by impulses, temptations, and habits, especially those motivated by underlying emotions and subconscious beliefs.
You may bring those underlying attitudes and feelings to the surface by making personal development a regular and vital part of your life. That way, you hone your capacity for self-control, making it simpler to form new habits and achieve short and long-range objectives.
5. Rewarding relationships and happiness
When your relationships are bad, it affects the rest of your life. On the other hand, you will reap significant benefits if your relationships are strong and vibrant.
According to a Harvard study, people who put effort into their interpersonal and communication skills on a regular basis experience higher levels of enjoyment in most of their interactions with others and tend to live longer and happier lives.
Strategies to take your personal growth and development to the next level in 2022
So far we have discussed what personal growth is and why it’s important. Now let’s look at 3 strategies and accompanying tactics you can use, beginning today, to create a better future for yourself and perhaps inspire others to do the same.
1. Create a clear vision
You need to be clear on where you are going in order to get there. What specific area(s) are you trying to improve? Is it your career, finances, relationship with your loved one(s) or perhaps your health? It is important that you don’t try to make too many changes at once. Picking one or two areas and setting specific goals is best to avoid overwhelm. Get some writing materials and take the following steps.
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Write down a clear description of the current situation and why you are dissatisfied
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Decide on and write down your desired state
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Write down how getting to the desired state will benefit you and others
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Set a SMART goal
2. Make an action plan
Here you write down the steps you are going to take to achieve your goals. One way to think about this is to consider your SMART goals as your product goal and the daily/weekly/monthly actions you need to take as your process goals. For instance, if you want to land a job with better pay in 2022, your SMART/product goal can be to land a job that pays you twice your current salary by September 30, 2022. Your process goals could be to apply to 3 multinational company jobs per week and to earn a new professional certification each quarter.
3. Stay on track
This is where the rubber meets the road. Setting SMART goals and writing down action plans are all great but taking consistent action is what will bring about the achievement you desire. Below are some proven tactics to keep you on track.
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Keep a journal
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Review your progress daily/weekly
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Have a Not-to-do list
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Have an accountability partner
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Read books and listen to podcasts that support your goals
Conclusion
By devoting time to personal growth and development, you are improving your capacity to manage your life, career and relationships. You learn to discover, heal, and modify fundamental beliefs, as well as self-destructive behaviours and routines.
