Creating a Personal Growth Plan

Personal growth should be a lifelong commitment, regardless of our age. However, we cannot just say we want to grow and leave it at that. 

By creating a really suitable personal growth plan, we can prepare ourselves to tackle the obstacles in the way of our goals and work towards becoming the best possible version of ourselves.

Remember: Without clear goals, we cannot create an efficient plan and will likely feel unfulfilled in our endeavors.

Luckily, there are some basic habits that we can tailor to our own life to ensure continuous growth.

Easy Ways to Create Your Personal Growth Plan

1. Identify what you really want.

Think about what you really want. Your reasons need to be absolutely clear and compelling. You must discover the deeper “why” of your goals. E.g.: healthier relationships, less stress, improved health, increased productivity, enhanced self-control, greater success, improved peace of mind, better parenting, greater happiness or resilience.

2. Identify obstacles.

Take a look at what you perceive as roadblocks on your path. Examine how you can either remove them or reframe and use them to achieve your goals.

The invention of the Post-it note is a great example of turning a roadblock into an opportunity.

3M corporation had a problem with a glue it had invented due to it not sticking things together effectively. The glue was considered to be a failed product until Arthur Fry thought of a way of combining the glue with a bookmark.

A “low-tack”, reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive became the basis for the Post-it note, which was a massive success.

3. Align yourself with your personal growth plan.

Most of us experience inner conflicts that lead to self-sabotage. 

So, before you take the next step forward, it is very important to unblock from these conflicts and get yourself into alignment with the plan. 

You need to be willing to get out of your comfort zone. Successful personal growth requires motivation and the willingness to strive to make changes. 

Once you are aligned you will focus on what you really want and know and, consequently, you will find yourself taking action that leads to success.

4. Write your plan and track your progress.

Put in writing your plan and follow-up your progress. This method will help you increase focus and limit unnecessary distractions.

At the end of each day, take your time to write about what you worked on. Write down both your small wins and setbacks.

At the end of the month, check out your notes and see how far you’ve come. It’s surprising the clarity you get from seeing the progress you made over a considerable period of time.

Remember: Tracking your progress is the easiest way to ward off feeling swamped and checking that you are moving in the right direction.

5. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people.

“Show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.”

Surrounding yourself with people who also actively seek self-improvement can help you to accomplish more than what you set out to achieve, and vice versa.

The key to surrounding yourself with like-minded people is knowing what kind of people make you feel most secure, inspired, and confident.

“The more frequently people experience that sense of progress, the more likely they are to be creatively productive in the long run. Whether they are trying to solve a major scientific mystery or simply produce a high-quality product or service.”

What about your plan?

Would you like to create yours?

Want to practice even more?…