A successful business springs from the mind of an individual who is committed to self-growth. If you’re not developing yourself, your business will not develop. As you grow, you will find that it is easier and easier to achieve your goals. Put forth the effort to grow yourself and you’ll see the universe respond in kind.
To relate this to something you’ve already experienced – think of it this way. If you want to lose weight, you need to move more and eat less. If you’re committed to your new lifestyle, you’ll see the results you want. The pounds will drop and your body will become lean and toned. If you only occasionally follow the rules and spend part of your time being lazy, you won’t lose weight as fast (if at all). You get what you put into it!
Once you’ve decided to commit to your business idea, you need to commit to your personal growth as well. If you aren’t healthy, your business won’t be either. Here are some tools that will help you in your quest to grow yourself. You may find certain tools very helpful and others not helpful at all – that’s okay! Use whatever combination of tools you want.
Meditating
Meditation is a great way to quiet your mind, lower stress, relax, and focus. It can be hard to learn, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it! Start with simple breathing exercises. Focus on the sensation of breathing. Feel your lungs fill with air. Hold the air in for a couple counts and then release it slowly. Put all your focus on the experience of breathing so your mind quiets. This may be difficult at first, but keep at it. Start with small ten minute meditation sessions and build up to longer sessions as you get accustomed to the process.
Affirmations
Affirmations are positive thoughts that you repeat to yourself often. (My affirmations are on sticky notes affixed to my bathroom mirror. I read them whenever I wash my hands, brush my teeth, or check my makeup before heading out!) Affirmations should be in the present tense, specific, and written as if they already exist. Instead of saying, “I will make $5000 this week,” say “I am so happy and grateful that I made $5000 this week!”
Vision Boards
These are fun! Take a corkboard, whiteboard, or even a wall of your cubicle and cover it with images of things you want. Put up a picture of your dream house. Cut out the body of a model that you want to look like and paste a picture of your head on top. Hang up your bank statement, with the actual balance whited out and your dream balance penned in. Look at this board often and feel grateful for these wonderful things that are in your life!
Keeping a Journal
Journals help you to keep focused on your goals, restate your affirmations, and track the steps you are taking to achieve your desires. Write down all the thoughts and feelings that you have over the course of the day. Even if an idea seems strange or out of place, write it down. You may find a use for it in the future! A journal will also help you analyze your mistakes so you don’t repeat them in the future.
Committing to self-growth will add to the positive energy in your life, which will make good things come to you and your business. Don’t forget to keep yourself healthy!
Tags: life-syle change, personal development, personal growth, self-growth
I am a huge fan of personal development and I feel that it is an important key to becoming successful in any field. If we are not happy with ourselves then it’s hard to find happiness from the world around us.
You’ve given some really great strategies on how people can start on their journey of self development. I personally use affirmations all the time and I’ve found that the longer I repeat them, the more I believe it, and the easier it becomes to bring it to fruition.
I also have a vision board though I got a bit more techy with it and created one in photoshop that I use as my wallpaper. That way I see it everytime I log on
Great stuff as usual Sharon!
~Angel
Thanks for the comments, Angel. I actually use all the techniques I describe in this post, especially the vision board. Mine is not at all high tech but it works just the same. I also keep a goal card on the dashboard of my car so I can see and read it any time I’m in the vehicle.
I love the goal card idea! I think I’m going to start using that myself
~Angel