The new year often renews a sense of urgency to focus on our self-improvement and personal development goals. Sometimes it’s a temporary thing only for the moment and other times, it’s something that we want to focus on seriously.
Either way, there are many self-improvement goals in the air, and it’s refreshing to see. If you haven’t decided on what you want to improve this year, here are three self-improvement goals to focus on to reveal a happier you. How to maintain a positive mindset, make self-care a priority, and create personal boundaries.
Each goal is a beautiful addition to your overall mental and emotional well-being.
1. Maintain a positive mindset.
What is a positive mindset? It’s when you’re optimistic most of the time and don’t allow your situation to bring you down. You’re hopeful most of the time. It’s not that you’re unaware of the things going on around you. But you choose to be aware of it but not to think worst about it.
Optimism is when you’re naturally hopeful. Although you’re aware of your challenges, you still have a positive outlook despite them.
In addition to thinking positive, maintaining a positive mindset requires you to stay mindful of any negative thinking patterns to replace them with positive thoughts, affirmations, quotes, and scriptures.
Initially, you have to pay close attention to your thoughts. Then, once you’re keenly aware of any harmful patterns, you can make a concerted effort to retrain your mind to replace the negative thoughts with more positive ones.
What common myths are associated with maintaining a positive mindset?
The biggest myth related to a positive mindset is it’s unrealistic and impossible to do in today’s reality. What do you think? Do you know those who are optimistic despite the unbelievable challenges they face? I do. It’s usually a surreal experience to be around them.
What are the benefits of maintaining a positive mindset?
A few health benefits that positive thinking may provide are:
- lower stress levels
- ability to manage challenges better
- a longer life span
- less depression
- greater resistance to the common cold
- better mental and physical well-being
Maintaining a more positive and optimistic mindset will definitely make you happier now and in the future!
2. Make self-care a priority.
What is self-care? Self-care is anything you’re currently doing to take better care of your mental, emotional, or physical well-being or nurture yourself. Self-care means something different to everyone. The ironic thing about self-care is that although it’s in the blogs and magazines often, there are those of us who still need those gentle reminders. Self-care is self-preservation!
Contrary to many popular beliefs, self-care can be small things that you enjoy every day, like a fresh cup of scented cinnamon green and black tea the French press early in the morning.
Here are a few other things you can think about doing:
- checking in on family and friends via phone, FaceTime, Zoom, etc.
- enjoying a hot bath
- coloring in a coloring book
- going to bed earlier
- taking deep breaths
- incorporating more exercise (safely)
- sitting still
- drinking more water
- going for a short walk
- making candles
- going to bed earlier
- and the list of free, low cost and safe options continues…
What common myths are associated with self-care?
Many think that engaging in self-care is selfish. In comparison, others believe that it has to be expensive or lavish. Then, others feel self-care an as-needed thing. Like my mom, some women didn’t recognize what self-care was, may never engage in it. Yikes!
What are the benefits of engaging in regular self-care activities?
First, we have to make self-care a priority, which means scheduling something to do regularly during the pandemic (at home) and post-pandemic. And self-discovery plays a part in it because you have to determine your needs.
Practicing self-care helps you to:
- manage stressful challenges
- become happier overall
- enjoy a longer life
- be more resilient
Practicing any form of self-care for a short amount of time will improve your mental health and reveal a happier you.
3. Create personal boundaries and limitations.
On our quest toward genuine happiness, personal boundaries must be created and applied, or enforced. Hint, hint. But first, what are personal boundaries? And, what are the benefits of using them?
Personal boundaries or limitations are anything that you think should exist to feel respected and heard, protect your peace and sanity, or limit access to you.
Protecting your peace and personal space is everything during an already stressful time.
But, how do you apply or enforce your boundaries? First, by calmly stating what you want to happen and why.
Next, you have to take action. Do the thing that you said you were going to do. For example, “I’m gonna go to bed early so I can’t take late phone calls from Alicia anymore.”
What are you gonna do when Alicia calls you at midnight next time? Have a mini action plan ready in your mind, so you’re not caught off guard when it happens one time, two times, etc.
What common myths are associated with creating boundaries and limitations?
One of the biggest myths I encounter about setting personal boundaries is you have to be mean, heartless or have an I don’t care attitude to follow through. I think this myth must’ve been fed into by those who couldn’t walk all over their others and treat them how they wanted to because of new personal limitations. Ha!
Contrary to popular belief, you can create and enforce reasonable boundaries and limitations with friends, family, colleagues, etc., without being mean, nasty, and heartless. However, you can’t control their reaction.
What are the benefits of creating and enforcing personal boundaries?
Two of the primary benefits of having healthy boundaries in place are:
- less stress
- more happiness overall
Creating and enforcing personal boundaries to the best of your ability will reveal a happier you.
If you want to go more in-depth to learn about maintaining a positive mindset and creating personal boundaries, join the Transform My Life 5-Day Challenge: Discover, Define and Develop the Life I Deserve here: https://bit.ly/transform5daychall
What self-improvement or personal development goals have you set for 2021? I can’t wait to hear all about it!