The concept of self growth may feel unattainable or vague... but it's actually the root of our happiness.

In fact, according to one study, 40% of our happiness is in our control. That means our mindset has the ability to control almost half of how we feel on any given day!

I want to discuss with you five ways you can jumpstart your self growth. These approaches are realistic and implementable — you can start doing them in your life, today!

5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Self Growth

Take the time to think about each of these constructive tips. Reflect on a scenario in your life when you have handled a situation poorly and could have benefited from handling it better using these skills.

1. Learn from Criticism

In order to experience the ultimate positive mental shift, it's important to take feedback constructively.

This can be a hard concept. We inherently deflect negative criticism because if we internalize it, it can damage our ego. But if you train your mind, you can use this feedback to better yourself and ultimately as a foundation for self growth.

So what does that look like?

Think about the last time someone told you something negative about you. How did you handle it? What did you do?

Often, people will:

1. Brush it off
2. Become angry and internalize the comment
3. Become self-conscious and introverted

These negative reactions also have negative consequences. Instead, try taking the comment and turning it into something constructive.

Rather than thinking "My boss said my performance was poor this month. He's always so hard on me. He's favoring my co-workers" try to change your mindset to think something like "I haven't met my goals this month. What can I do to make sure I meet them in the coming month? How can I learn from my mistakes?"

This shift takes negativity and turns it into something positive that can empower you rather than drag you down.

2. Set Attainable Goals

Setting unrealistic goals leads to disappointment. Aiming high isn't a bad thing... but setting yourself up for failure is.

Goals should be S.M.A.R.T. —

• S = Specific
• M = Measurable
• A = Agreed Upon
• R = Realistic
• T = Time based

A vague goal, such as "I'm going to do better this month" means nothing if it isn't S.M.A.R.T. Run your goals through this acronym every time. Make sure it's clear, success can be measured, it's something everyone wants, isn't unachievable, and has a time frame to be completed in.

Once you start setting smarter goals, you'll be able to achieve them but also feel better knowing you've been successful. 

3. Be Organized

Organization doesn't come naturally to everyone. For some people, disarray is a part of daily life. But being organized is critical to feeling a sense of purpose and avoiding feeling frazzled.

Now, I'm not saying you need to color code your closet. But when it comes to meeting goals, deadlines, and being on time for meetings there are tools you can use to ease the pressure on your mind.

No one wants to feel overwhelmed trying to keep their calendar straight in their brain! We all have a ton of tasks we're expected to perform regularly. It's important to not get caught up in the when and where... so you can focus on the how.

Mark important dates, appointments, and deadlines on a calendar. Whether you use one online or an agenda notebook style, writing things down allows your brain to let them go so you can have room for more important things. Like remembering someone's name when you meet them! 

4. Adapt to Change

Being adaptable is a skill. And in today's world, it's considered more valuable than ever.

In fact, 91% of human resource directors cited adaptability as a major recruitment goal. This means almost all recruiters won't even consider an applicant if they have trouble dealing with change!

So what can you do to make sure you don't let change freak you out? It's natural to be intimidated by the unknown, but it doesn't need to stop you from performing.

First of all, don't take it personally. It's a bad habit to let change feel like a personal attack on your life. Instead, take a step back and look at the big picture. Think to yourself "why did this happen" and "what can I do to fit it into my life."

This realistic outlook on change will help you get in a mindset to adapt and embrace self growth. Sometimes, chances to grow come knocking on your door when you least expect them. You won't always be ready — but it's important to embrace them as they come. 

5. Celebrate your Achievements

As important as it is to acknowledge your failures, it's equally important to celebrate your success.

Don't let it go unnoticed when you meet your goals! This doesn't mean you need to gloat and try to make others jealous. It just means you need to give yourself a pat on the back and tell yourself what a great job you did.

In addition, it's important to note why you reached your goal. What did you do differently? What self growth skill helped you achieve success? How can it be applied again in the future?

By reflecting on your achievements, you can learn powerful habits to apply to events to come. It isn't by chance you attained what you set out to do — you set the bar, put the wheel in motion, and made it happen. So make sure you know how you did it... so you can repeat the cycle of success.

A Healthier Mindset, Better Living

Elevating your way of thinking can help you overcome life's toughest challenges. We all have to deal with our own mountains which we must overcome. Use self growth as a way to climb faster. 

These five skills will help you do just that! 

Are you ready to experience the effects of changing your viewpoint? The Avatar^® Path can help you. Trained Avatar masters can guide you through a series of world lessons to explore your self growth in a new way. You don't have to go it alone — self growth is a process that can be learned from others.