Time To Bloom
Spring is a beautiful time of renewal, reinvigoration and growth. The dark, cold days of winter fade away as Mother Nature gently begins to wake from her restful slumber. Animals begin to stir from their long hibernation, tulips bloom, trees come to life and the entire landscape is painted in all the colors of the rainbow. Like the change in season, we too have the capacity to grow and bloom! In fact, personal growth is essential to our overall happiness and well-being.
Personal growth is the process of developing new attitudes, habits, perceptions, thoughts and skills which allow you to break free of the patterns and behaviors which no longer serve you. These changes can have positive affects on your relationships, career and in other areas of your personal life. When you begin to think and do differently, you open the door to endless possibilities for yourself. The first step towards personal growth starts with shifting into a positive mindset. But how do you make that shift?
It starts with intention. When you begin the day with a positive thought or action you the set tone for the entire rest of your day. Try reciting one or two (or more!) positive affirmations or quotes to yourself. Or, practice a few minutes of mindfulness either through meditation or deep breathing exercises. It can even be as simple as throwing open the curtains to let the sun hit your face and opening up the window to breathe in the fresh air. Any of these actions will send the message to your brain that you are ready to receive all of the amazing things that the day has to offer.
Other ways to cultivate a positive mindset include:
Celebrating your wins – Don’t dwell on the negative
Practice gratitude – Focus on abundance, not lack
Surround yourself with positivity – You are the company you keep
Be mindful of your mental diet – Focus on positive news stories, engaging books, and inspiring podcasts
Shifting into a positive mindset will take time and a lot of practice before it becomes an automatic habit however, it’s absolutely worth the effort! Thinking more positively is key to being able to make the changes that you want for your life. Imagine for a moment that there is nothing holding you back. The future is a blank canvas just waiting for you to make that first stroke in creating your masterpiece. What do you want for yourself? What is available to you right now that can help you achieve the “Big Picture” vision that you have for your life? Allow your mind to wander and dream. When you feel ready to take the next step towards a new and improved you, try on some of these suggestions.
Find a mentor or coach – Find someone who can help you to see things in a new way and hold you accountable on your journey of self-discovery
Read about what you want to improve or learn – The more you know and understand, the more confidence you gain in yourself
Create strong systems in your daily life and stay consistent – Work on developing the habits that will move you forward and place them within the routines that are already working best for you
Find a support system – Look for people who are working on the same goals and lean on them for support and motivation
Be open to feedback – It’s not always easy to see our flaws, allow others to share their observations with you
Journal – Take a few minutes each day to reflect and celebrate yourself
Push yourself out of your comfort zone – Change can be uncomfortable but if you stay where you are most comfortable, you won’t grow so keep pushing yourself forward
Put pen to paper – Write down your hopes, dreams and goals so that they feel more real and tangible instead of just thoughts that live in your head
Lastly and most importantly, be kind to yourself. Personal growth takes time and the path is not linear. You will have days where you stumble and feel like you’ve failed but recognize that is part of the process. For every setback there will be a step forward so always remember to give yourself a little grace with the process. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one (small) step. Take your time and enjoy the process as you begin to bloom into a new, beautiful you!
