The Six Attributes of Self Improvement
a small, practical guide for improving - Part 1
Improving is Natural
Nature improves. Like nature, we are constantly changing, adjusting, eroding and growing. Leaves on a tree grow, and then they fall. So if someone appears to have stopped improving, maybe they are eroding or maybe they are in a period of decay. After all, no matter how wonderful the summer was, autumn always follows.
Everyone is trying to improve. Even people who’ve stopped trying, or who excel at being bullies, or those who encourage divisiveness. We are all are located somewhere on the continuum.
Self improvement, in a sense, is less about whether we are improving and more about how conscious and deliberate we are in the process, and what we are choosing to focus on.
The Six Attributes of Self Improvement
Self improvement should work in daily life. I want self improvement that can help me in my daily life. Why work on things that are meaningless? Unless, of course, I need to study meaninglessness.
Self improvement should maintain a sense of the practical. I want self improvement that is practical. Things I can work on and practice in my normal everyday life and relationships. Because that’s typically where I’ll see the greatest and more useful results.
Self improvement should cross relate. I want the kind of self improvement that I can cross relate, use in any discipline. I don’t want to find mastery in only one thing, and leave it at that. Rather, I should be able to improve in anything I focus on.
Self improvement should transcend boundaries. I want self improvement that I can apply physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I am not a gym guy who only cares about building big muscles. I preferred to be empowered to grow in any way possible, not stunted to remain forever confined and restricted.
Self improvement should spin off, by benefiting others too. Self improvement should never be selfish. I’m always hopeful that my personal self-improvement will improve others somehow. I want to be a guy whose self-improvement studies don’t come thru like a flag-waving patriot. I’d rather be a champion of a non-pushy field effect.
Self improvement should endure. I enjoy self improvement that builds up, like a good investment. For something to endure it needs to be considerate of a higher perspective and needs to be in it for the long term. It should stick to the ribs of my psyche like thick soup on a cold day.