50 ways to help you grow
Looking to grow? Then look no further than this comprehensive list of things to do to expand your life and grow as a person.
Learn a new language
Learning a new language will help you increase your vocabulary and memory, make you a better communicator and even expose you to a variety of new cultures and places.
Try a new hobby
Trying a new hobby can help relieve stress and make you a calmer and more relaxed person. Opening yourself up to new experiences and people is an excellent way to grow and increase confidence.
Go back to school
Going back to school can expand your horizons by introducing you to new things and people. You may also find yourself inspired by something new that could put you on a new career path.
Wake up early
Research has shown that those who wake up early tend to be more proactive, are more optimistic and can anticipate and manage problems better than those who sleep in late.
Sleep in late
On the flip side, if you feel you need extra sleep, stay in bed! There are many to be had from getting extra sleep, including disease prevention, stress reduction and memory improvement.
Exercise regularly
Beyond the health benefits, there are ample reasons to exercise on a regular basis. Not only will it make you more confident, it will also help you stay positive during tough circumstances.
Take a solo trip
Taking a solo trip will force you to come out of your shell and ensure you experience a wide variety of things in a short period of time—from talking to strangers to learning how to be alone in public.
Write a letter to your future self
Write a letter to your future self outlining what you hope you’ll be doing in a year’s time. Open the letter when you reach that moment and evaluate whether you were able to achieve any of the goals.
Ask for feedback
Learning to ask for—and then evaluate—feedback is one of the most critical life skills anyone can gain. By taking negative thoughts and turning them into positive lessons to learn from you’ll be able to expand your skill set and adjust habits that could be holding you back.
Write to-do lists
Scientists have found that to-do lists help the human brain stay productive and on track, so it’s a great idea to write them for just about everything—from day-to-day tasks to long-term life goals.
Quit a bad habit
If you want to change who you are, it’s good to evaluate your good and bad habits. Breaking a bad habit isn’t easy, but it will result in many benefits. Read more here.
Help others
If you want to learn more about what makes you tick, as well as increase your daily happiness level, help others. Science has shown, this to be the key to life satisfaction.
Ditch negative people
No one needs negative people in their world. Ditch them and find people who see life more along your life-goal lines.
Journal
Putting pen to paper can unleash thoughts you never knew you had. The journal entries need not be long; even a few sentences a day can help you reflect on what’s happening in your world.
Start a blog
Whether you want to blog for fame or to find yourself, opening up on the internet can be a big stepping stone to self-discovery. It may also open you up to new adventures and experiences.
Ditch television
TV time is often used to escape or tune out. But in doing this you could be missing out on things that are important to you and what you truly want to do with your life.
Skip screen time
Why spend hours of your time mindlessly scrolling on screens when you can go offline and build the life you dream of? You’ll find you become more positive and will feel less left out as a result.
Listen to a new podcast
The quickest and most convenient way to learn something new these days is to listen to a podcast. Within a short time you can learn new things and maybe find new passions, all for free.
Meditate
Meditating and learning to quiet your mind will help you peel back the layers of who you are or want to be.
Try public speaking
Our brains are wired to hate public speaking, but pushing through that fear can be incredibly liberating. You will realise you can do something you never thought possible and, as a result, increase your self-confidence.
Apologise
To truly be an empathetic person, you need to learn how to apologise and express remorse when you’ve done something to hurt someone else. While difficult it is also very rewarding.
Take a break
If you feel your mind is always moving or on the go, taking a break will quiet things and allow you to think more clearly. What you discover during moments of quiet contemplation might surprise you.
Do something that scares you
By stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing something that scares you, you may gain strength, courage and confidence.
Talk to a stranger
It’s easier to speak to those that we know and are most familiar with, however striking up a conversation with a stranger can teach you things about yourself and maybe open you up to new ways of thinking or lifestyle.
Call out bad behaviour
You’ll make the world a better place by calling people out on their bad behaviour. You will also personally grow by doing this.
Stop laughing at bad jokes
Bad jokes—anything that makes someone feel uncomfortable or is racist, sexist or inappropriate—aren’t funny. Stop laughing at them to show that person why their behaviour is wrong.
Stand your ground
Having the confidence to stand up for what you believe in is an invaluable skill. It will make you feel more accomplished, confident, and will increase the respect others have for you.
Take responsibility for your actions
Be 100% per cent in charge of your life and accept responsibility for your actions—both positive and negative. Only then can you truly stop blaming others for your circumstances and move forward.
Know your strengths and weaknesses
Research has found that being able to identify what you’re good at and what skills you need to grow is imperative to nailing everything from job interviews to life goals. Analysing your traits will also increase your own self-awareness.
Be honest
Another easy way to truly develop who you are is to own everything about yourself—your likes, dislikes and values. To do that, be completely honest with everyone from your employer to your friends. It will also improve your overall health as a result.
Act locally
If you love your community, become more engaged within it and shop at a local level. Your money will benefit small retailers, and on a global scale you will help save the environment.
Take care of the environment
Spending some time reducing, reusing and recycling and saving the environment can have a huge positive impact on your psyche and physical well-being. Check out these simple eco living tips here.
Surprise people
Preparing an elaborate surprise for someone can be a powerful way to show them you care—which, in turn, will make you feel an incredible amount of gratitude. It can also teach you something about yourself and what you value.
Don’t show up empty-handed
Generosity is a very important and overlooked trait. Make sure to say thank you in appropriate ways (even if it’s as small as showing up with a gift for a host or hostess). You’ll improve your relationships, reduce your stress and extend your life.
Admit when you are wrong
No one enjoys being wrong but it’s something that happens to the best of us. Admitting you are wrong and accepting your imperfections is one of the only true ways to grow as a human being.
Mind your manners
Manners go long way and spread positivity in a beautiful pay-it-forward kind of way. Why not go the extra mile and hold the door for someone or to say thank you?
Retrain your brain
To shut off the negative voice inside your head, spend a few days focussing on what your mind is saying; then replace each negative thought with a positive mantra and repeat it whenever you feel fear or negativity creep in.
Walk instead of drive
Want to give yourself a mental boost? Exercise and learn more about who you are? Go for a walk!
Stop shopping
A simple way to learn more about who you are is to create a world where delayed gratification is a constant. The best way to do that is to stop shopping. You will get a better understanding of what you need versus want in life and save money!
Do more for you
‘Me time’ isn’t a new concept, however, most don’t incorporate it into their daily lives. Learning to do more for yourself will help you find your inner voice as well as help you work through problems effectively and efficiently.
Cook more
Doing more cooking is a surefire way to make you feel good and improve the quality and awareness of your life—two positives that are backed by science!
Read more
An easy way to learn more about the world and yourself is to read books. Reading can lead to you becoming a better person.
Learn to say no
People-pleasing can be a good trait, but it can also mean that you end up doing a lot of things you don’t really want to do. To harness your personal power and be true to yourself, it’s important to learn to say no.
Listen instead of speaking
To learn more about other people and the world around you, you need to listen more and speak less. Researchers have shown that those who perfect this skill are better leaders and friends.
Ask for help
To truly grow, you must be able to be vulnerable, connect, take chances and ask for help when you need a leg up.
Share your goals
Many people believe that by sharing your goals you’ll be able to achieve them—and personal growth—faster!
Focus on money
Many believe the key to being more self-aware and secure is to work hard at gaining financial independence. Therefore, knowing where your money is going, investing in yourself and scaling back on needless purchase can be very beneficial.
Delete apps
Studies show that apps don’t save you time or help you. In fact, they are a giant time suck. Take back the hours in your day to and delete the programs you never or only sometimes use.
Stop comparing
You can’t grow into who you want to be by comparing your situation to others. The act of comparing will only hold you back and can undermine your ability to appreciate what you have.
De-clutter
According to research, de-cluttering can help with finding yourself and accepting your likes and dislikes. Click here for help on decluttering.
Source: 50 things you should do to really grow into yourself
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