This is dedicated to my fellow ladies with love.
I got into personal development at a time when I was very passive, and to be honest a bit confused too.
I was not sure what I wanted in life, but all I knew was that something had to change in the way I was used to doing things.
I don’t write this as someone who has already figured everything out but as someone who has picked things along the journey and is excited to share them with you.
It’s what I’d write to a 24-year-old me.
If you are already in it or just beginning, here are a few things to remember.
1. Align yourself to your purpose to avoid wasting time and energy
We spend a lot of our time doing things that do not give us joy. True or true?
Well, some are fortunate enough to know from the get-go what they will focus on.
One thing I wish I had from a young age, was the conversation on purpose.
It would have probably saved me a lot of money and time.
But all in all, it’s not wasted. Some of these lessons are there to give us stability once we figure out where we are headed.
Stability in the sense that nothing can shake or distract you once you figure out the direction.
I encourage you, daughter, sister, mommy, wife, or cousin to take time and invest in a course or program that can help you discover your purpose.
I have written a personal development guide that get you started on that. Click here to get a copy.
2. Apply what you learn
Part of growing is being able to apply the lessons we are learning.
Take for instance the first point we have talked about.
Once you become knowledgeable on the topic of purpose, you are in a better place to advise a younger person, or even your children on some decisions they need to make.
And lessons can come from books we read, podcasts we listen to, and conversations we have with people.
I admit it can be overwhelming trying to apply all the lessons at once.
Pick a lesson for a day or for a week. It will probably depend on the weight of the lesson.
Some might be easier to master while others might take time.
Have you heard of the book Life Lessons From The Monk Who Sold His Ferarri?
There are so many lessons in the book and they are all quite amazing.
Applying the lessons at once is quite impractical, let alone reading.
So what I did was read one lesson a day.
3. Share knowledge with others
Anyone on the personal development journey should always think of how to share the things they are learning.
The thing with sharing is there is better retention.
It even sounds better to share it once you have applied and seen it working.
Find a platform where you can share.
You can do it on your Insta stories/reels or on LinkedIn articles if you are not ready to put yourself out like that, yet.
Sharing is caring.
It also keeps you accountable and makes you more responsible.
That’s because you can’t preach water and take wine. It keeps you grounded to stick to the ideas you are sharing with people.
It’s a positive thing. Don’t think of it negatively.
The more you share the more you keep reminding yourself of the things you are learning.
4. Scale up – don’t stay at the same place
One thing that Personal development is not is stagnation.
The moment you stagnate you stop growing.
Every time you feel like you are plateauing, it’s high time to look for more challenges.
You want to ensure that your mind is being stimulated to think and find solutions.
Ideas to help you with scaling are enrolling for further studies, doing virtual courses, picking a new language to learn, and DIY things.
This is definitely not an exhaustive list.
There is a whole array of things to do.
Oh, I forgot to mention reading. It’s such an affordable thing that can push you steps ahead.
I like to say that reading helps you pick the brains of thousands of people you admire but might never get a chance to meet.
Scaling up ensures you always have something to share with those who look up to you.
It gives you an upper hand in advancing in your career.
The person with more skills will always have more bargaining power than anyone in the room.
I’ll share something I did on my end a few months ago.
I knew I would end up doing business at some point so I enrolled in a basic financial management course in Coursera to give me a starting point.
I now understand some financial jargon that I otherwise wouldn’t.
5. Take care of yourself
There is no personal development without self-care.
The buck always stops with you.
Whenever you feel good about yourself you show up better for yourself.
This is a moment for you to pose and identify the things you have neglected about you.
What always puts me in a good mood even when everything else is falling apart, is doing my devotion, my hair and nails.
They give me confidence and help me feel a little put together.
Take care of your mind and heart. Nourish those two because they are the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23).
Take care of your personal space too.
Be in a place where you feel comfortable. A place that motivates you for productivity.
Simple action steps here would be organizing, revamping, and tweaking a few things here and there to bring freshness and newness to your space.
It changes your approach to things.
While at it, nurture those relationships that mean a lot to you.
The relationships that pour into you should never be left to chance. Spare time to grow them.
I deeply hope this helps you prioritize personal development. I am on that journey and I hope we can take it together.
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