Adrian Volenik
If you’ve come to the point when you’re unhappy with what you see in the mirror, don’t fret.
There are many simple changes you can make literally after reading this article that will help you feel better about yourself.
However, it’s all about the journey and not the destination. Be open to new experiences, and allow yourself to grow and evolve, one step at a time.
Buckle up!
1) Focus on positive habits
Small changes in your daily routine can have a significant impact. This could be anything from waking up early, spending some time meditating or reading, to eating healthy and exercising regularly.
For instance, waking up early gives you a head start on the day. Early risers often have more time to prepare for the day, exercise, meditate, or do something productive.
The quiet of the early morning can also be a serene time for planning, reflection, and peaceful solitude, especially if you live with others, including kids.
Reading, on the other side, broadens your perspective and increases your understanding of the world. Whether you prefer non-fiction, self-improvement books, novels, or news articles, make reading a part of your daily routine.
Above all else, it helps us escape our problems for an hour or two.
2) Start learning a new skill or hobby
We’re staying on the topic of learning. Starting a hobby or learning new skills can give you a positive boost and something to engross yourself in.
Learning all the intricacies that go with starting a new activity is always thrilling for me.
What works for me is starting with manageable steps. I break down the learning process into smaller tasks or goals. This approach allows for a sense of progress and prevents overwhelming feelings that could hamper motivation.
Recognizing there’ll be a learning curve that’s more or less steep is also vital, as well as practicing regularly.
Remember, the process of learning a new skill or hobby is as valuable as the outcome.
3) Avoid comparing yourself to others
In a world obsessed with social media and presenting your best self, comparing yourself with others is almost inevitable.
The truth is, there will always be someone smarter, younger, more beautiful, and with more money than you or me.
Just because your social feed is filled with people living their best lives doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.
But when we compare ourselves and our achievements to others, we influence how we see ourselves.
A study by researchers at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, showed that if we think we’re much better than others, we might not want to change because we feel we’re doing just fine.
On the other side, if we believe we’re much worse than others, we might not want to try to change because it seems too hard to reach our goal.
It’s best to recognize that everyone has their own journey and stop comparing ourselves to them.
Here’s what you should do instead.
4) Visualize
Spend some time each day visualizing the person you want to become. Think about how you behave, what values you have, and how you interact with others. Over time, this can help align your behaviors with your ideal self.
You can also start acting “as if” you’re already your ideal self in your daily life. This means behaving, making decisions, and reacting to situations like your ideal self would.
Over time, these behaviors can become more natural and ingrained.
For example, if your ideal self is confident, start acting as if you are confident in various situations.
This includes speaking up in meetings, expressing your opinions, and taking on challenges with a positive attitude. This will help boost your self-confidence.
5) Set clear goals
Once you’ve thought long and hard about what kind of person you want to be, you need to set clear, achievable goals to work toward.
Break down these goals into smaller, manageable steps that you can take on a daily or weekly basis. That will give you direction, motivation, and a sense of purpose.
Assign realistic timelines to each step or milestone. Consider your availability, resources, and other commitments.
But also learn from setbacks. Analyze what went wrong, adjust your approach if necessary, and use them as valuable lessons that can propel you forward.
Once you’ve set goals, it’s time to be proactive.
6) Be proactive
If you’re feeling you’re behind in life, stop waiting for opportunities to come your way. Instead, actively seek them out. Take ownership of your goals, make plans, and take steps to move closer to them.
A proactive approach will lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.
Until around 10 years ago, I was as inert as they come. I waited for everything to fall into my lap.
Things began to change once I understood that stepping outside your comfort zone is often necessary for personal and professional growth.
Assessing a situation’s potential risks and rewards, making informed decisions, and being willing to take action even when uncertainty exists are crucial too.
Despite not having all the answers, be willing to take action and move forward. Recognize that waiting for complete certainty can lead to missed opportunities or stagnation.
Instead, embrace a mindset that allows you to make calculated decisions and take action, even when uncertainties exist.
7) Surround yourself with positive influences
Some people believe you’re the sum of the friends you have. If you hate the person you’ve become, evaluate the people you spend the most time with and consider how they affect you.
Start surrounding yourself with individuals who inspire and uplift you. Find those who align with the values and qualities you want to embody.
To do this, join communities or groups centered around your interests, passions, or goals.
You can also attend workshops, seminars, or events related to your field of interest.
In any case, engaging with like-minded people in these spaces will give you opportunities to meet and connect with people who share your aspirations.
8) Practice random acts of kindness
When I felt bad about myself, I started doing something I read about long ago – engaging in unexpected acts of kindness toward strangers or acquaintances.
This could be as simple as offering a genuine compliment, helping someone in need, or volunteering.
These small but big acts often create a positive ripple effect and improve your own sense of fulfillment.
Lift yourself by lifting up others.
Additionally, approaching and engaging in conversations with strangers boosts your confidence.
It pushes you to overcome social anxiety, fear of rejection, and self-consciousness. You become more comfortable expressing yourself, initiating conversations, and connecting with new people with each interaction.
Make an effort to see things from various viewpoints, even those that seem contradictory to your own. Or especially those.
Engage with people who have different backgrounds, beliefs, or ideologies.
9) Embrace discomfort
For some, including me, this type of engagement with strangers can initially be intimidating. But embracing discomfort in your daily life is very beneficial for you.
In fact, it’s a powerful catalyst for personal growth and self-improvement. Think about that for a moment.
If you don’t know where to start, deliberately set challenges that push your boundaries. Start small and gradually increase the difficulty level.
This could involve trying new activities, learning a new skill, speaking in public, or engaging in social situations that make you slightly uncomfortable.
If you start embracing these challenges, you will cultivate resilience and adaptability.
10) Adopt a minimalist lifestyle
Another thing I’m looking to adopt is a minimalist lifestyle. It implies decluttering your physical environment and simplifying your life. Now, I just need to get my wife on board with the idea.
Focusing on owning fewer possessions and prioritizing experiences over material possessions is incredible for producing clarity, reducing stress, and allowing you to appreciate the things that truly matter.
This next thing will certainly help with that.
11) Disconnect from technology (for some time)
Taking regular breaks from screens and digital devices or digital detox has many benefits. I already mentioned how social media is terrible for your confidence and many other things.
Disconnecting from the constant stream of notifications and information allows you to reconnect with yourself, nature, and the present moment.
Use this time for self-reflection, creative pursuits, or simply enjoying the simplicity of the offline world.
12) Challenge societal norms
At the end of the day, maybe it’s not you, it’s the society and those around you that make you feel this way.
Question and challenge societal norms and expectations that don’t align with your values or authentic self.
Think about conventional career paths, life and lifestyle choices, or social norms that may be holding you back from true self-expression and fulfillment.
You are the CEO of your life. No one else. Start acting like it!
