Our habits can either make us or break us. It’s the habits that we choose that will decide the direction we will go in life.
Og Mandino once said, “Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure.” His words ring true to me. They should ring true for you, too.
We will examine 10 life-changing habits that will propel your personal development forward. These habits will change your life, make you a better person, and help you stay sane in an insane world.
Photo by Mathias Jensen on Unsplash
10 Life-Changing Habits For Personal Development
1. Read daily:
One of the easiest habits to develop is the habit of reading. Books are a treasure trove of information for leaders. All you have to do is crack open a book.
There are multiple lists of great leadership books out there. I create a list of five books that you should read every month.
These lists will help you find books that speak to and help you develop.
2. Network:
Networking is scary; I get that. Not all of us are extroverts who love the roar of a large crowd. Some of us want to sit back and take everything in.
However, if you want to see yourself developing, you must step outside your comfort zone ever so often. Matthew Pollard has a great book and course to help introverts network. It’s not just an extrovert’s game!
Get out there, mingle with intention, and grow your network. You’ll find new friends, business connections, and ideas waiting for you when you network properly.
3. Daily affirmations:
Affirmations are phrases you repeat regularly to maintain a positive mindset. These phrases will put you in the right mood, remind you of who you are, and what you can do.
I created a great resource that you can download to help you with your daily affirmations.
4. Get outdoors:
One of the things I love about running is that I do it outdoors. My feet hit the pavement, I can smell the crisp air or lake breeze, and the sun shines on me.
During my runs, I listen to audiobooks, podcasts, or music. This builds my mind and tends to my soul. The actual act of getting outside and moving develops my body. It’s a win-win-win.
Try getting outdoors more. You’ll discover a world outside your door that you never knew existed.
5. Take a break:
This may seem counter-intuitive, especially since this is about personal development. However, we all need breaks in our lives. We were not created to go-go-go despite what some personal development and self-help gurus will tell us.
If God rested, we definitely need to learn how to take a break.
6. Volunteer:
There are many opportunities out there for you to volunteer. Not only will you be helping others, but you will also be helping yourself.
You can find volunteer opportunities in any needed area. There are food kitchens that need your help, churches that could use your financial savviness, and community organizations looking for someone to fill a role.
As you volunteer, you’ll make personal connections, learn new skills, and help others thrive.
7. Regular journaling:
Journaling can be an excellent resource for you to reflect inwardly to see how you’re growing. Find journaling prompts that will make you look back on your day, thoughts, and actions.
You’ll begin to see who you are as you write out your answers. You can then decide if that’s who you want to be or if you need to grow in a new direction.
8. Pray:
Prayer is powerful. Don’t let anyone tell you it is not. It’s one of the first things I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night.
Prayer connects us to a higher power, God. We can unload on Him. We can share our struggles, pain, and challenges. He won’t begrudge us.
We can also use our prayer time as a time to reflect on what’s happened and how we’re dealing with our situations.
9. Spend time with loved ones:
There’s not a lot that I like more than spending time with loved ones, be that family or friends. These times with others refresh and recharge me. They connect me to something bigger than myself.
When you spend time with loved ones, you get to dig deeper into who you are and the people around you. You discover what makes you tick, how you handle difficult situations, and what you’re willing to open up about.
Don’t isolate yourself. Get out there, connect.
10. Get a mentor:
A great way to develop yourself is to find a mentor. Many people will say that you need an in-person mentor. Someone you meet with one-on-one.
I tend to disagree with this opinion.
You can have in-person mentors, virtual mentors, and mentors that don’t even know they’re mentoring you.
Mentoring comes in all shapes and sizes. Find the right mentoring relationship that works for you and get mentoring!
Growth Is A Choice
As you work through these ten life-changing habits, as simple as they may seem, you’ll notice your life begins to change. Keep working on these habits. You’ll grow, change, and develop into someone you no longer recognize but someone you respect!
