Be Victorious and Embrace Self-Growth

Have you ever been presented with an opportunity that sounded amazing, but you turned it down because you did not feel equipped to carry it out properly? How did that make you feel? Did saying no to the opportunity lower your self-esteem and confidence and hurt your self-growth?

Now consider this: what if you spent time working on yourself, your mind, your emotional resiliency, and your marketable skills? How far could this self-growth and personal development take you? When you prioritize self-growth and pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses, the sky is the limit.

Why focus on self-growth?

God created each one of us with unlimited potential, yet we place a limit on ourselves. Sometimes we blame our circumstances, childhood, location, or education. But the truth is that no matter where you are currently, you can make a change. That change starts with you embracing self-growth.

How to develop self-growth

Self-growth is the continuing education of yourself. It is the study of you and what you need to learn to fulfill your purpose and calling. You are born with a talent that can be honed, but you must learn skills. The good news is that everyone else must learn skills too. Self-growth is part of personal development and can serve you for the rest of your life.

The following are ways you can start embracing self-growth.

Set goals.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? Five years from now? Where do you want to be a year from now? Like with any journey, you need to set a destination before you can plan how to get there. Do you want to own your own business? Do you want to open a nonprofit?

Ask yourself questions. Challenge yourself. Some of these goals may sound too big and impossible, but most people underestimate what they can do in five years with consistent work. Try setting ten goals to start, both short and long-term goals. Do not worry about how you are going to accomplish them just yet.

Choose one or two goals that will move the needle.

If you look at your list of goals, there are probably one or two that will move the needle toward you achieving all the others. For example, your goals could be to earn an associate degree in Cyber Security, earn certifications in Cyber Security and Information Technology, and get a job making six figures a year.

If you receive a certification in Information Technology, you could get a job in that industry while working toward a certificate in Cyber Security. By the time you earn that certification, you already have a history with a company and can ask for either promotion and raise or move into another role.

Depending on how quickly you earn the certifications, both of these could happen in less than one year even without earning the associate degree yet. Imagine what could happen over five years. Study your list and identify the one or two goals that will make everything else fall into place. Now break those down into manageable tasks.

Build emotional resilience for self-growth.

The more resilient you are emotionally, the faster you can recover and move on from past failures and disappointments. Bad things and losses happen to everyone. How you handle your emotions and process the event can make all the difference. You can either run and hide or move forward toward being better.

To achieve your goals and grow personally and professionally, you need to embrace resiliency. You must become more self-aware and protective over your time and emotions. This may mean you must set boundaries with friends, family, and acquaintances. Protect your heart and mind so that you can reach your goals.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23, NIV 

Learn how to communicate.

Learning how to communicate is a marketable skill that will open doors for you. Verbal and nonverbal communication focused on an individual can make you relatable and likable. People will feel like you understand them and will be more likely to listen to you. If your career is in sales or ministry, mastering communication is necessary.

Each person is made unique, but there are commonalities. Some people are more extroverted, others introverted. Some people are more into serving others, while you may encounter a group of people with leadership qualities. If you can learn how to relate and convey your message to each type of group, you are more likely to make an impression on your audience.

Check your vices.

Self-growth means being better to yourself, not just mentally and emotionally, but physically. It means taking time to eat well, exercise, and practice self-care. It also means checking your vices and having a frank discussion with yourself about the consequences of those actions.

Substance abuse, overdrinking alcohol, and addictions can ruin your chances of building a better life. They provide temporary relief or a high but will ultimately rob you of a good life and satisfying personal relationships. Some vices are addictions that require professional help to stop. Contact a therapist today if you need help with an addiction.

Build on your strengths and weaknesses.

As you embrace self-growth and personal development, you may notice that some things come naturally to you and that you enjoy (strengths). There are also probably things in which you are far from great (weaknesses).

Pay attention to these strengths and weaknesses. You will want to continue to build on your strengths, but do not shy away from your weaknesses. If you are weak in an area, you may need to work on that skill. If you are weak in public speaking, you should work to overcome the fear underlying that weakness.

At the same time, take note of the weaknesses you can delegate to others. If you are not an artist but need a book cover design, consider hiring a graphic artist or book cover designer instead of learning a skill that could take years, and that you may never master.

Take a course.

Take new courses if you want to get ahead in life or your career. You do not have to be enrolled in a university to take a class anymore. You can find plenty of platforms online that offer courses taught by experts, professionals, and universities. Some courses are free while others charge a price. Double-check with the course presenters; they may also offer certification on the topic.

You live in a time in our society that has never existed before. Never have we had so much knowledge at our fingertips. You can learn just about anything by completing a course or watching a video. Make a list of skills you need to know and see if you can find a class or series of videos about the topic.

Take a vacation day.

Being victorious and embracing self-growth also means knowing when to take some time to rest. God rested on the seventh day after creating the entire universe, the earth, and everything in it. Let that be an example for us. Burning the candles at both ends will not help you grow any faster, personally, or professionally.

At least once a week, spend some time doing nothing. Relax and unwind with your family. Find some “me” time every so often to do something for fun all by yourself. Schedule a vacation day where you just chill out, watch a movie, or read a book.

At first, you might feel guilty for neglecting your responsibilities. Or you might feel lazy. You are not lazy and should not feel ashamed to practice self-care. You cannot pour from an empty cup. If you push yourself with no breaks, you will burn out.

Developing self-growth with professional help

Interested in learning more about self-growth and personal development? Need help with where to start? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with a personal development coach and counselor and start your lifelong journey to discovering God’s purpose for you.