05/28/2024
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE YOURSELF?
Sometimes, when all our doubts, fears and insecurities wrap ourselves up, we always come up with the idea of “I wish I was somebody else.” More often than not, we think and believe that someone or rather, most people are better than us.- when in reality, the fact is, most people are more scared than us.
You spot a totally eye-catching guy or girl sitting by themselves at a party, casually sipping on a glass of Asti Spumanti. You think to yourself, “They look so perfectly calm and confident.” But if you could read through their transparent mind, you would see a cloud of thoughts and you might just be amazed that they're thinking “Are people talking about why I am seated here alone?... Why doesn’t anyone find me attractive? …I don’t like my ankles, they look too skinny… I wish I was as intelligent as my best friend.”
Sometimes, when all our doubts, fears, and insecurities wrap ourselves up, we always come up with the idea of “I wish I was somebody else.” More often than not, we think and believe that someone or rather, most people are better than us.- when in reality, the fact is, most people are more scared than us.
We look at a young business entrepreneur and say “Wooh… what else could she ask for?” She stares at herself in the mirror and murmurs, “I hate my big eyes… I wonder why my friends won’t talk to me… I hope Mom and Dad can still work things out.” We may suffer from low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence, and lose hope in self-improvement because we are enveloped in quiet desperation.
Sometimes, you notice an irritating habit, like biting your fingernails or having a foul mouth, and YOU are the last to know.
I have a friend who never gets tired of talking. And in most conversations, they are the only one who seems to be interested in the things they have to say. So all of our other friends tend to avoid the circles whenever they're around, and they don’t notice how badly they become socially handicapped – gradually affecting the people in their environment.
One key to self-improvement is to LISTEN and TALK to a trusted friend. Find someone with whom you find comfort in opening up even on the most sensitive topics you want to discuss. Ask questions like “Do you think I am ill-mannered?”, “Do I always sound so argumentative?”, “Do I talk too loud?”, “Does my breath smell?”, “Do I ever bore you when we are together?”. This way, the other person will know you are genuinely interested in self-improvement. Lend her your ears for comments and criticisms and don’t give her answers like “Don’t exaggerate! That’s just the way I am!” Open up both your mind and heart. And in return, you may want to help your friend with constructive criticism to help them improve themselves.
One of Whitney Houston’s songs says “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.” True enough. In order to love others, you must love yourself too. Remember, you cannot give what you do not have.
Before telling others how to improve themselves, let them see that you are a representation and a product of self-improvement. Self-improvement makes us better people, we then inspire other people, and the rest of the world will follow.
Stop thinking of yourselves as second-rate beings. Forget the repetitive thought of “If only I was richer… if only I was thinner” and so on. Accepting your true self is the first step to self-improvement. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others only to find out that we’ve got 10 more reasons to envy them.
