Personal growth

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

How this was put together

If you only read a few

  1. Stop waiting for motivation; start doing things simply because you have to.

    16 people, independently

  2. Reflect on where your beliefs come from, identifying when they started or who taught them to you.

    3 people, independently

  3. Read 'The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love' by Bell Hooks.

    3 people, independently

  4. Write down three things you are grateful for every night in a journal.

    7 people, independently

    • Pause twice daily to reflect on aspects of your existence you appreciate.6
  5. Deliberately place yourself in uncomfortable situations to encourage personal development.

    Growth typically requires facing challenges; staying in familiar territory rarely leads to significant progress.

    7 people, independently

    • Deliberately put yourself in challenging situations to humble yourself and force growth.3
  1. Write down specific goals or issues you want to address, then identify habits you can build to get them.

    3 people, independently

  2. Show gratitude and value what you possess rather than complaining.

    5 people, independently

  3. Post a list of goals publicly to create accountability and track progress.

    7 people, independently

  4. Help other beings in a positive way without seeking credit or recognition.

    8 people, independently

    • Volunteer to help others to develop appreciation for what you have and shift focus away from yourself.4
7 more on this
  1. Acknowledge that initial conditioned thoughts are uncontrollable, but direct your energy toward managing how you perceive, analyze, and respond to them.

    3 people, independently

  2. Identify role models from history, media, or real life who possess traits you admire, and consciously emulate those characteristics in your own actions.

    11 people, independently

  3. Start small by replacing bad habits with positive ones, such as swapping morning phone scrolling for reading a book.

    5 people, independently

  4. Use Nonviolent Communication to express needs without judgment: state observations, feelings, needs, and requests.

    3 people, independently

  5. Aim to offer a compliment to everyone you encounter.

    5 people, independently

  6. Grow personally through reading books and enrolling in online classes.

    4 people, independently

  7. Daily, recognize your actions and examine them closely.

    3 people, independently

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