Growing and developing as a person can be in many different forms, varying from person to person. Whether someone excels in a sport or develops better arts skills, growth can be viewed in multiple aspects. I find that personal growth comes from within and how you choose to grow as an individual. Whether it be working on an attitude, or figuring out how to prioritize yourself over others, personal growth is different for everyone. Throughout my teenage years I have gone through a lot of personal growth. I have had to make a lot of difficult changes to my life in order to grow as the person I want to be. I want to provide the ways in which pushes me the most to be the best version of myself.
Prioritizing you
One of the main tips to personal growth is being able to prioritize yourself first. Subconsciously, people who care a lot for others tend to put them before themselves… I was one of these people. Honestly, it is extremely common and I found it very hard to put myself first, but it can be different for others. I think the biggest issue is knowing when to set your boundaries and say “no”. For me, I would always offer to pay for people, do things my friends would ask me that would take advantage of me, or just care more about how my friends felt over how I felt. What hurt the most, is the favors never being reciprocated. It was a huge lesson for me that people will take advantage of your kindness, and just because you do something nice for someone else, does not mean they will do the same for you.
Begin by knowing when you need to put your foot down and say no. When you do not feel okay agreeing to something, there is absolutely no shame in saying no. Those are your boundaries, and if someone else is not able to respect that, then that’s not someone you should associate yourself with. Being able to recognize your own feelings and choose to do what will make you happy, is a step in the right direction. Do what you want to do for others instead of letting others walk all over you.
The People in your Life
The relationships you have in your life have a big impact on the person you are. If a person only shares negative energy and brings you down, it’s not a person who deserves a place in your life. Someone can seem like one of your best friends, but it can also be clear that they shed their insecurities or bad influence onto you. Sometimes when we love a person, we become blindsided to who they truly are and how they make you feel. I’ve had my fair share of friends, who I honestly saw in my life forever, make me feel bad about myself or who I am as a person. Due to some of these people, it caused me to become a version of myself that I don’t even recognize anymore or ever want to be. In no way do I think anyone is a bad person, or that these specific friends are bad people. I think there are certain people who won’t fit with the life or person you want to be and will just get in the way of your growth, which is okay. It is okay to let a friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend go if they can’t respect you. You should be around people who want to bring you up and make you feel good about who you are. It’s always good to take a step back from a friendship or relationship and look at how good or bad it makes you feel.
Build a support system of friends and family that you can rely on. Your friends, relationships, and family should be valuable bonds that offer good to your life and boost your personal growth. Having great people around you who show you love, care, support, and consideration are the ones who will be by your side along a journey of growth and development. Find those people who will always have your back.
There are several ways to guide you in the direction of personal growth and development. I find that these two topics are what every person should be able to do… I want to go into more depth of other methods for growth, but for now I’ll leave you with these. Be okay and accepting of who you are and realize that you’re stuck with the person you are for a while, so learn to love it.
Remember you are not alone. Surrounding yourself with supportive people who love you is where you want to be. If you are in need of immediate attention please seek help.
For mental Health Resources and Support: 988lifeline.org (The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
