{"id":958,"date":"2014-09-10T06:30:22","date_gmt":"2014-09-10T10:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/blog\/?p=958"},"modified":"2026-02-02T20:33:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T20:33:40","slug":"personal-development-becoming-best-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/personal-development-becoming-best-self\/","title":{"rendered":"Personal Development 101: Navigating the Journey of Becoming Your Best Self"},"content":{"rendered":"

The other day I came across an interview with a personal development blogger, and she described herself as \u2018growth-oriented.\u2019 That term really resonated with me , and I think it is the best way to describe why I do what I do, and why I am interested in the things I am.<\/span><\/p>\n

There was just this spark within me to improve; I knew there was more to life, and I could find ways to navigate this ride more successfully. I knew I could be happier than I was, and create more awesomeness in my experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m thankful everyday for that spark.Without it, I would probably be in a very different space, and a very different person. Not necessarily terrible versions, but ones I probably wouldn\u2019t be very happy with.<\/span><\/p>\n

I imagine anyone reading this can relate to much of what I am saying. You have that same spark, and you are interested in living up to your full potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

First off, good for you\u2014things can be so much easier, and fabulous, if we are willing to do a bit of work on ourselves, and adopt more empowering and positive perspectives on life.<\/span><\/p>\n

I wrote this post because I wanted to share a few tips to help you get the most out of your self-improvement efforts and make sure you are having plenty of fun along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enjoy!<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Get So Obsessed with \u2018Knowing\u2019 There is No \u2018Doing\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n

There is certainly no shortage of material out there to sink your teeth into. There are so many \u2018issues\u2019 we need to work through, from crappy childhoods to self-sabotaging behavior; so many \u2018tools\u2019 that can help us make positive changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will find so many different people offering unique insights based on their own personal mix of experience, beliefs, delivery and philosophies. Some will resonate with you more than others, and it is a good thing to check out different books, blogs and what have you, to find what inspires and motivates you most. You want to read works that really \u2018click.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

The exposure to new ways of thinking and being is a primary ingredient in the \u2018self-improvement stew.\u2019 It serves as the catalyst for increased awareness, and changing the thoughts ,behaviors and beliefs that have caused us so much grief over the years.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, it is easy to fall into the trap of perpetually gathering new information and not actually taking any sort of action. All this \u2018knowing\u2019 can trick us into thinking we are changing, but when we step back, we’ll quickly realize we haven\u2019t really made any headway. We haven\u2019t done much self-examination or really used any of the myriad \u2018tools\u2019 we have read about.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is often that need to gobble up as much as we can, lest we miss some amazing piece of wisdom that will pull everything together. On some level, I think we are looking for some \u2018magic bullet\u2019 that will allow us to miraculously morph into a new person overnight.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, by all means, explore the different topics, read the different books. But, don\u2019t forget to make that conscious effort to apply what you have learned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let Go of the Idea of Perfection<\/span><\/h2>\n

We all KNOW<\/em><\/strong> there is no such thing as being perfect. But, what we FEEL<\/em><\/strong> is often very different, and on some level, many people on this journey have this desire to reach a state of perfection. While this was never a conscious goal of mine, at some point, I made the realization that there was this part of me hoping for this outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is that deeper desire we will slay all our demons for good, we will forever rid ourselves of yucky feelings like anger, envy, sadness and impatience. We will become Buddha-like beings floating through life on our cloud of expanded consciousness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hey, there may be people like that out there, but I\u2019m certainly not one of them. And, like anything else on this blog, I write based on my own experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have made AMAZING changes in my life, and I am riddled with \u2018flaws.\u2019 I can get mad about really stupid things, like really stupid.<\/em><\/strong> So stupid I usually end up laughing at myself in mid-complaint because I realize how ridiculous I am being.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is one part of me that loves my fellow man, and another that goes to great lengths to avoid interacting with them. I am overly sensitive at times. Sometimes I feel really anxious and depressed, though these moments have considerably lessened in recent times.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

About a month ago, I had a near nuclear meltdown when my loving fiance Ryan implied I may have been eating too much cheese. Of course, it really wasn\u2019t about my consumption of a dairy product (hmm..it probably was at least a little because I really love cheese.) It stemmed from one of my thornier issues of getting really pissed off when I get the sense people are trying to tell me what to do, or getting in the way of what I want. It was quite the sight and we had a good laugh about it eventually.<\/span><\/p>\n

We all have our \u2018stuff\u2019 and while we can no doubt unload some of it completely, or get to a point where certain behaviors and feelings become quite rare, some things may still present a challenge to you. The best we can do is learn to handle these moments better, which makes them less intense and go away more quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t make perfection the goal. You can still create a great life without becoming a master of the human experience.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes It Can Get \u2018Ugly\u2019 but It Doesn\u2019t Always Have to Be that Way<\/span><\/h2>\n

The journey to our best self can be really hard sometimes. We have to face issues, and emotions, that we have buried really deeply. They are really messing with us in countless ways, and need to be embraced, so they can be released.<\/span><\/p>\n

This new path may put you at odds with other people in your life, who may not understand why you are doing what you are doing. They fear the changes you are making will take them away from you. You may drift apart from some people as you no longer vibe with them. People may give you a lot of shit, and take your efforts to be better ,as some indirect criticism of their own way of being.<\/span><\/p>\n

Going after the things you want, and becoming the person you want to be, often involves lots of uncomfortable decisions ,and emotions like fear and doubt.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, growth doesn\u2019t have to be all unpleasant activities like digging out past traumas. Lots of it can be fun. A lot of my \u2018work\u2019 has definitely been of the lighter variety, and merely making an effort to feel better has helped me release a lot of my \u2018stuff\u2019 without actively staring it down and beating it to a bloody pulp.<\/span><\/p>\n

Have fun with your personal development work. Make time to do things that make you happy and feel good. Learn to laugh at yourself. Don\u2019t take life so seriously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dealing with Others Who \u2018Haven\u2019t Seen the Light\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n

So, you have been doing all this great stuff and are making all these amazing changes in your life. You know<\/em><\/strong> if other people did what you’re doing, they would get these same awesome results. So, you are really eager to give your input anytime the opportunity presents itself, so you can help them \u2018fix\u2019 their lives once and for all. Oh how grateful they will be to you…
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

But, often times, it is necessary to curb your enthusiasm. People can only resonate with information they are ready to hear and to which they feel open<\/em><\/strong>. If someone in your life isn\u2019t there yet, nothing you say will make a difference. In fact, you will probably make them really angry, and leave them wanting to punch you in the face. <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe at some point they will be open to this whole personal development thang and making big changes in their life. Then, they will love to talk to you, and get your tips and insights. But, it is also possible they will never develop this same interest, either because they are perfectly happy with where they are and who they are, or they aren\u2019t but can\u2019t get past all the junk that is keeping them stuck.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best thing you can do is just keep living your life and creating more awesomeness. People will certainly notice, and it may get the wheels turning in their own minds.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you get the sense people may be open to what you have to say, by all means, go for it. But, when you know they won\u2019t, just keep your mouth shut. What you say will fall on deaf ears, and you will cause yourself unnecessary aggravation.<\/span><\/p>\n

As you become wiser, all the dysfunctional ways in which us humans handle our issues will become much more obvious to you. At this point, it is really easy to become judgmental of people, and think you are \u2018better.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

It might be tempting to share your two cents in the spirit of helping people, but again, it will probably not go over well. Everyone has their own path and lessons to learn. Don\u2019t worry so much about them, and just focus on yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s All a Journey, There is No Final Destination<\/span><\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t look at this \u2018work\u2019 as something that has any sort of end point. In your mind, you may be envisioning some new and improved version of yourself that will eventually emerge, and then you will be \u2018finished.\u2019 No doubt you can make amazing strides of which you probably may not think you are capable right now. But, again, remember to let go the idea of perfection.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you look at growth and change in this manner, you will get very impatient; you will be too hard on yourself for not \u2018getting it\u2019 yet. You’ll set unrealistic goals for yourself. You’ll miss all the fun to be had.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, if you can look at it as an indefinite journey, as a way of life, it will be much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to live in the moment with greater ease. You’ll take whatever happens as it comes and be more accepting.<\/span><\/p>\n

As you move along, you will always be finding something new to explore, and it’s pretty great.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use What Works, Discard What Doesn\u2019t<\/span><\/h2>\n

You will come across a lot of different philosophies, tips and what have you. Some things will resonate with you and some won\u2019t. I think a lot of people feel some sort of internal pressure to throw themselves completely into a certain belief system, lifestyle, or the teachings of a particular guru, and mold their whole lives around it. We are very used to categorizing, and everything having its place; and this need definitely can spill over into our identity and how we go about living our life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Never accept anything as truth without critical thought and seeing how something plays out in your own life. Don\u2019t make yourself do things that don\u2019t seem right or beneficial to you because someone else told you it is what you should do.There are many different paths to happiness; there is no one best way. Sift through the information, and use what works and discard what doesn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. What tips do you have for people? What challenges are you working to overcome? Please leave me a comment..would love to chat with you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The other day I came across an interview with a personal development blogger, and she described herself as \u2018growth-oriented.\u2019 That term really resonated with me , and I think it is the best way to describe why I do what I do, and why I am interested in the things I am. There was just […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12995,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-making-positive-changes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=958"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12990,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958\/revisions\/12990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}