“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make”

Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make.  It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you

-Robin Sharma

I made myself a promise over 25 years ago, that I would return to university when I was 50, had a successful business and had chosen a doctorate thesis that would help millions of people.  Oh how time fly’s. With a little over 18 months to go until I turn 50 years young, I think that it’s time I cracked on!  Yes, I have gone and enrolled to study for a MSc of Health and Wellbeing.

“Are you crazy?” “Why go back to university at this age?” “Surely you’re busy enough Carley?”  These are just a few of the questions I’ve been asked since I’ve told people of my latest endeavour.  But those that know me, are not surprised and neither should they be.  Self-development, self-growth, pushing to be a better than I was the day before has been my ethos FOREVER! So why would I change now, just because I’ll be half a hundred next year?

There are so many reasons we should all be striving to learn and grow all the way through our lives, and in this blog, I’m going to touch on just a few.  Our world is changing on a second-to-second basis, and in that, the journey of self-growth and development has never been more vital.

A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies highlights that individuals who actively pursue self-improvement report higher levels of satisfaction and well-being (Lyubomirsky, 2007). When we commit to personal development, we not only foster a better understanding of ourselves but also cultivate skills that enable us to adapt and thrive in various aspects of life. While there’s a million and one reasons to blame the world for all our problems in life, I challenge each one of you to look within ourselves for solutions.

Here are a few tools to Begin Your Self-Development Journey. A word of advice though, don’t try to change everything at once, start with where you’re most frustrated and go from there.

1.    PLACE YOUR ORDER / SET CLEAR GOALS: Identify areas in your life where you want to grow. Whether it’s developing a new skill, improving relationships, or enhancing your emotional well-being, set specific goals using the SMART criteria. Write them down to create accountability.

2. LEARNING IS FOR LIFE: Invest time in reading books, articles, or listening to podcasts that resonate with your goals.

 3. TUNE IN BEFORE TURNING ON: Before you jump onto your phone in the morning, try and tune into yourself for a few minutes first. Incorporate mindfulness practices such as meditation, journaling, or deep-breathing exercises into your morning and daily routine. Reflecting on your thoughts and actions, is a crucial part of personal growth.

4. GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER: Constructive feedback from trusted friends, family, or mentors can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement. Embrace this feedback as a tool for growth rather than criticism and use it to adjust your goals or strategies.

5. DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE: Not everyone in your corner, is in your corner!  Learn who your energy drains are and who are your energy fountains. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who are also on their self-growth journeys.

6. REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE: Self-growth is an endless pursuit; this is a lifelong adventure.  Self-growth and development are ongoing processes that require commitment and patience. Embrace the challenges and celebrate the small victories along the way.

7.CULTIVATE A GROWTH MINDSET: This mindset encourages you to see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles.

8. CREATE A SELF DEVELOPMENT PLAN: This plan will serve as a roadmap to guide you through your goals and aspirations. Begin by evaluating where you currently stand in various aspects of your life—emotional, physical, professional, and social. Then define your vision. Ask yourself what do you want to achieve in the next year, five years, or even ten years? Then set specific goals, and determine what resources you need to achieve them.

9. EMBRACE CHANGE: Change is a constant in life. Learning to embrace change rather than resist it will open doors to new opportunities. As the philosopher Heraclitus famously said, “Change is the only constant in life.”

Whatever drives your desire to improve, work on it, on your daily.  My labour of love is to help as many people as I can shine in health and become a key player in the worldwide evolution of healthcare. I’m over 20yrs into making my dream my reality and I am still as excited today as I was then.  Like me, I encourage you to keep your motivation at the forefront as you continue on your path. The journey of self-development is beautiful and profound. Start today, and let the adventure unfold!

Until next month.

Your partner in health

Carley x