How to Steps For Self Improvement

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By georgelarson
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Are you content with who your are?

You have doubts about yourself and fears about how you will be received at that next meeting, outing, or social event. These doubts and fears form an envelope and you are stuck inside wondering how to get out. Wishing you were someone else is never the answer, self improvement is.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Open mind to make personal changes.
Willing to accept yourself for who you are.

Step 1

Don't compare yourself to others.

When you see other people and how sure they are of themselves or how much 'stuff' they have remember it is all a grand illusion. Things are not always as they look so do not compare yourself to others. Anyways, they are probably looking at you, with envy, wishing they were you. You need to compare yourself with who you want to be and take action to improve yourself.
Step 2

Accept who you are.

When you are stuck in that envelope you may think of yourself as second-rate person. Do not focus on 'I wish I were', or 'I wish I had' scenarios. Stop the negative thoughts and scenarios and replace them with accepting who you are.
Accepting your true self is the first step to self improvement.
Step 3

Watch yourself closely for habits.

Pick a day or two to really focus in on the way you present yourself. Do you have bad habits that may annoy others? These may include interrupting during a conversation, eating with your mouth open, talk with your mouth full, bite your fingernails, procrastinate etc., etc., etc. Bad habits are behaviors that do not benefit your life. Write them down. Look at the list. Now act to change those habits.
Step 4

How to change habit.

Habits are formed by doing something over and over at least 12 times. After that point the action is set and the habit is formed. The best way to create new habits, or modify an old habit, is to reward yourself. When you take smaller bites and wait to speak until you swallow, take yourself out to eat with friends. They don't need to know why but they will notice a difference in you. When you stop procrastinating and begin to get that large (or small) project done take a quick break and treat yourself with something to eat that you really enjoy. Make sure you get back to your project right away.

Habit formation is just another synonym for character development. Changing habits will change how you see yourself. Rewarding yourself is important because you are worth it.
Step 5

See yourself from another viewpoint.

Another tactic that will lead to self improvement is bouncing things off someone who will listen to you and give you constructive criticism. Ask specific questions like "Do you think I am ill-mannered?", "Do I always sound so argumentative?", "Do I talk too loud?", "Does my breath smell?", "Do I ever bore you when were together?". Listen to the response, accept it as constructive input, do not give excuses why you are or act that way, and actually write it down. This is a great list of how you are now and gives you the opportunity to decide if that is okay or if you want to change. And in return, your friend may want to ask you some pointed questions about themselves. This may be a difficult process for self improvement but both you and your friend will come out respecting each even more.
Step 6

Be your own best friend.

You have to love yourself before anyone else can love you. When you start the process of self improvement you will begin to notice more self confidence and you will like what you see when you look in the mirror and think about yourself. Now you can use yourself as an example of a transformed, more disciplined, and self improved to others. Self improvement will make you a better person and this will inspire other people, and then the rest of the world will follow.