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5 Tips For Self-Development & Overcoming Obstacles

by Angie Picardo

It can be easy to get down in the dumps when you feel that things in life aren't going your way. Even easier is to compare yourself to the people around you, or even strangers that you see succeeding. First of all, get out of that habit. Part of the reason you may not be recognizing your own achievements is because they're always weighted against someone else's. That's a sure sign of self-defeat, and we're here for the purpose of self-development.

Now that we've gotten that nagging voice out of the way, here are five tips to get you on the path towards a positive self-development plan.

1. Know your goals. Knowing what you want, and what your personal goals are is the first step towards proactive achievement. It's best to start small in the beginning. You may want to buy a house outright and avoid a mortgage, but being able to make a large down payment is a success in itself, and it's best to start there.

2. Make a plan. Now that you know what you want to achieve, lay out the steps that it'll take you to get there. Be realistic about this as well. No one does anything over night. Formulate a regimented and easily adoptable timetable for yourself.

3. Stay focused. This may be one of the hardest steps to follow. Originally, when there's a plan in place and things start up, there's a forward momentum of excitement keeping you going. This could plateau, and you may find yourself slacking in your plan. It's important to be your own ringleader, and push yourself forward even on days when you feel like you're stagnating.

4. Recognize milestones. A big part of keeping that forward momentum going, and staying on track, is by recognizing milestones. What achievements have you made this week that seemed so far away in the beginning? These are the mini-goals along the way that you have accomplished. Take the time to celebrate these, and acknowledge the vast improvements in your self-development that in the beginning we're only desires.

5. Start over. Now that you've met your major goal, whether it's a large down payment or anything else, don't stop there. What's the next step? Is it an addition to the house, or possibly paying the mortgage off in a short amount of time? Whatever it is, keep the momentum going. Achieving the first success will bring a big rush of accomplishment, and a motivating kick to keep going. If you didn't happen to reach the goal you wanted in the time you set out to achieve it, then this is a good point to restructure the plan and start again. Remember, starting over takes courage, so be proud of how far you've come, even if the end result is not as you've planned. Some of the best ideas and accomplishments came from brave people who started over as many times as was necessary for them to finally succeed.

Self-development isn't just about being happy in the moment, but more about bringing yourself to the quality of life that you desire. It may not be easy at first to follow the steps above and keep yourself disciplined, but acknowledging what you want realistically will be a step in the right direction.

Angie Picardo is a staff writer for NerdWallet. Her mission is to help consumers stay financially savvy, and save some money with free checking accounts.

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