I firmly believe in the significance of personal development. The endeavour to improve oneself doesn't signify weakness; on the contrary, it reflects courage. It involves confronting oneself, identifying areas for improvement, and actively working on enhancing those aspects of life.
Throughout our lives, we remain works in progress, much like a house requiring regular maintenance. Just when we believe we've reached a certain point, new challenges emerge, prompting us to continue the journey of self-improvement.
Is there tangible benefit in working on oneself? Undoubtedly. Challenging oneself to achieve small or significant goals instils a sense of self-satisfaction. This, in turn, boosts inner confidence and propels one to pursue other personal objectives. The positive effects of personal development extend not only to oneself but also to those who share their lives with us.
When is the ideal time to embark on this journey? Every day presents an opportunity to summon the willpower to work on any area of life. However, certain moments hold particular significance, such as birthdays, the birthdays of loved ones, and the advent of a new year.
In contrast to the past when Babylonians, Romans, and early Christians made promises to their Gods or God, today, we create New Year's Resolutions for ourselves. Yet, it's common for many to falter in keeping these promises, with over half abandoning their goals within the first month, as indicated by a conducted study. The challenge then lies in how one can adhere to resolutions throughout an entire year.
It is often recommended to confide in someone trustworthy about your planned resolutions, seeking support to stay on the path toward your goals. Ideally, finding mentors—individuals who have already achieved what you aspire to—is beneficial. You might also find trustworthy advisors such as friends and community members who might crucially support you and still guide you on this journey.
In the age of technology one can also use the smartphone to aid in tracking your goal performance. Over the past year, I downloaded an app that tracks new habits that i wanted to incorporated a in my life. At the end of each day, I go to this application and I tick the habits that I practiced during that day. This method, aligned with my inclination towards measurement and documentation, has proven effective in maintaining focus on my goals and cultivating new habits throughout the year.
As we step into the new year, I encourage you to equip yourself with a resolution or two, along with the guidance of a mentor or advisor. Remember that each day presents an opportunity for positive change. Nurture your goals, seek support, and leverage tools like technology to facilitate your progress. Transform the tradition of resolutions into a journey of personal growth and success. May the upcoming year be defined not only by the resolutions you set but also by your unwavering dedication to becoming the best version of yourself.
In closing, I leave you with a thought-provoking quote by Leo Tolstoy, underscoring the importance of actively working to improve your life: "We often hear that there is no use in working to improve our life, to fight evil, or to establish justice because progress will occur by itself. Imagine a boat floating along a river. Picture those who have tirelessly rowed and manned the oars stopping and disembarking. Meanwhile, the remaining passengers in the boat neglect to pick up the oars, presuming that it will continue its journey automatically, as it did before, into the future."
References:
Tolstoy, Leo. A Calendar of Wisdom. Translated by Peter Sekirin, Scribner, 1997. https://www.almanac.com/history-of-new-years-resolutions
https://www.history.com/news/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/psychology-of-new-year-resolutions
