5 Ways To Grow As An Individual

Self-growth is something that everyone can work on every single day of their life - no matter how great they think they are. Self-growth is extremely important to focus on and incorporate each day. You might have heard the quote “Make the most of yourself for that is all there is of you” by Ralph Waldo Emerson and it is so true. You only have one life to live and if you take care of yourself and try to grow and improve each day, you will have a life that was well lived at the end of your time here on Earth.

We all make mistakes and it is very easy to get off track with your self-growth if you let it get to you, but that does not mean that we cannot take those moments of weakness and turn them into something great. Take those mistakes and turn them into learning experiences so that the next time a situation like that one rolls around, you will know exactly what to do. That’s what growing is all about. We start from the bottom and learn to work our way up into greatness - we are not born into it, so give yourself grace and love because growth will come in time.

Forgive Yourself
Just as I mentioned above, you need to give yourself grace. It is easy to get upset at yourself if you did not handle a situation the right way, but take that as a learning opportunity and forgive yourself for your behavior. Whatever you are holding onto - forgive. Forgiving yourself is so important because you cannot fully move and grow until you do so. Also, make sure you forgive the ones around you, as well. So many people hold on to negativity and feelings of hate and this is huge because you are being dragged down by these feelings each day. Once you forgive yourself and others, you will be set free.

Be Transparent
Psychology Today says, “This is the foundation of everything. Practicing transparency means being vulnerable and honest, and accepting your story. You have to honest, especially with yourself. Practicing transparency means complete honesty in where you're at, what you're struggling with, and the courage to chase that string down to find out why. This leads to the second half of practicing transparency: accepting your story. Most people want to rip out chapters; they spend their days regretting and wishing things didn’t happen the way they did. But this keeps you stuck in what could have been instead of what can be. The more you accept your story, the more transparent you will be. And the more you practice transparency, the richer your growth.” 

Reach For The Stars
Aim for bigger and better things and reach for the stars. When you have big goals to reach, it will definitely help you stay on track with your growth. You can make big goals for yourself, but you also need to make smaller, more attainable goals to hit along the way, as well, so that you do not feel like you are not accomplishing anything. When you hit each small goal, you will feel so proud of yourself (and your growth), and it will motivate you to keep continuing on.

Say No Frequently
Say no when you need to and do it frequently. In our day and age, we’ve learned to be the “Yes Man” - the person who is down for everything. I’m sure you’ve heard the term, ride or die. People who are up for anything get worn down and to grow, you need to be able to say no when it’s the right choice for YOU.

Get An Outsider's Perspective
Getter perspective from an outsider is a great way to learn more about yourself, including your struggles and the things you need to work on, in order to grow as an individual. Talking with a professional counselor can be extremely beneficial, especially if that person has a personal experience with what you are going through, or has experience treating the same type of issues. For example, if you run into issues with infertility or marriage, I would want to reach out to Lynn Thompson Umstead, who is the Clinical Director and Founder of Ray of Hope Counseling Services. She is a trained mental health professional with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology. Due to her personal experiences with infertility, she is able to provide a level of professional and personal understanding in addition to a great deal of empathy when counseling her clients. 

Ray of Hope Counseling Services is a fantastic place for other needs, as well. They offer many services and therapy options such as child and adolescent therapy, online therapy, marriage and couples therapy, individual therapy, stress and anger management, and more. They accept all forms of insurance and Medicaid (so nice!) and they have locations in Kennesaw, Alpharetta, Conyers, Athens, Canton, Peachtree City, and Marietta. Let Ray of Hope Counseling Services help you learn more about yourself, in order to keep growing!