Personal development is simply trying to improve oneself in all aspects of life―mentally, socially, spiritually, physically, etc. It’s acquiring the needed knowledge and putting in the effort to be better versions of ourselves.

The topic of personal development has plagued my mind for months on end, and I couldn’t bring myself to write a single word. I’m sure you’re thinking ‘What a lazy fellow.’ Well, laziness represents barely five percent of the whole reason.

Truth is, I felt unworthy of writing about something that largely affects me in more ways than one. I’ve not been developing personally in any way for a long time. I was just the same old me. I even enjoyed my mediocrity and that made me feel like a hypocrite.

I could have just written whatever, but then I wouldn’t be practising what I was preaching. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a work-in-progress and this is for myself as about for anyone else.

I’ll be sharing tips I’ve found helpful in this unending journey of becoming. I hope you find them as helpful as I have. One thing is certain: if you put in the effort to develop personally, you’ll love yourself more, achieve more, and lead a better life.

Have expectations

This is the very first step. Most people just delve into self-development without having a vision of what they hope to achieve at the end of the day. The result? They get bored along the line and give up.

It's important to know what you desire to attain so as to avoid exerting yourself too much or too little and, most importantly, straying from your objectives. Share on X By having expectations, you anticipate your success and this gives you the confidence you need to keep pushing.

Write down your goals

And even when we forget, we can always go back to where we wrote it to refresh our memory. This step also lets you identify short and long term goals so you can create a scale of preference that helps you move from level to level until you’ve accomplished it all.

Avoid negativity

To quote Henry Ford, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.” It's is important to focus on your abilities and potentials rather than your limitations. This will enable you to create strategies that will work for you. Share on X

Positivity also helps you to keep a clear mind at all times. It helps you to improvise and find a way out each time you feel like you’ve reached a breaking point. While staying positive, constantly tell yourself, “I can do it.” Surround yourself with positive people too.

Be accountable

Accountability is essential on this journey. You could either get an accountability partner to keep tabs on your progress or devise other ways to make yourself accountable for your growth.

You can’t know if you are growing if you are not measuring your growth in one way or the other. Accountability will help you to be disciplined, persistent and resilient in your development.

Understand that you’re your competition

There’s a fine line between healthy and toxic competition; be careful not to cross it. When you progressively compete against your old self, it’ll help you find the personal development journey fun. We tend to do things we find fun with ease.

Celebrate your successes and failures

You will fail sometimes; that’s not the end of your journey. It’s simply another opportunity to try a different approach. When you record significant growth, don’t be carried away, so you don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.

Omotosho Oluwaseun is a delivery man. He holds a National Diploma in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibadan. He enjoys writing, singing, acting and entertaining people.