You may or may not have set a New Year’s resolution for 2011, but one thing is for sure. If you’re on this site, you’re never opposed to improving your life.
The list below includes 11 self improvement ideas that you can use as suggestions for living your best life as we move into a brand new year.
1. Use alternative/natural health remedies
Doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs are outrageous. From the costs and inconveniences, to the misdiagnoses and side effects; they are distressing at best. Learning to maintain your health, prevent diseases and treat illnesses the natural way is an awesome step towards living a better life. Throughout 2011, I will be happy to share more of my natural health secrets with you.
2. Sharpen your communication skills.
Unless you’re a total hermit (which is an issue within itself) you can benefit significantly from improved communication skills. Think I’m wrong? Ask your spouse, children and boss if you have room for improvement in that area? I think we all do.
Maybe you’d be more effective if you learned to scale back aggressiveness, listen more effectively, speak up for yourself or turn passive-aggressive behavior into assertion. Whatever the case may be, great communication skills improve your relationships both at home and in the business world.
3. Improve your body
I’m sure many of you have set a New Year’s resolution to lose weight and/or get in shape. That’s great except for one problem—you’re most likely unmotivated since you put it off until a new year. One great way to get motivated for physical self improvement is to find a way to love it.
Consider this: It’s a lot more fun to take a dance class than to walk on the treadmill for 60 minutes each day. Which one might you actually desire, enjoy and keep doing? It’s also more interesting to take on a cooking experiment project than it is to just stop eating your favorite foods. You could start with quinoa recipes, quick & easy homemade marinades, and beautiful fruit parfaits. Nice alternatives to rice, salted butter and cake! These things work for me, but you’re the best judge of what it will take to make you love improving your body.
4. Dare to love.
There are a lot of single people who have been hurt so badly that they give up on love. I can’t think of many things sadder than this. Relationships won’t always work out the way you want them to, but you deserve to love and be loved. Would you miss out on dancing because you might fall? I hope not. By the same token, don’t let fear of hurt make you miss out on the joy of loving. Open your heart. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Allow someone to love you back.
5. Remember to have fun.
How can something as wonderful as self improvement backfire? Easy! Too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. It is important to remember that taking life too serious is the easiest way to miss the point of it all. Changing your life and improving as a person is WONDERFUL. But it loses its value when you forget to make time for fun.
6. Try giving.
Since the start of the holiday season, I have talked a lot on this blog about how to give back—to family and friends, your community, the world, even the entire Universe. Unfortunately, those were my least popular blog posts. It was a very sad eye opener for me until I remembered something: It only takes one person to make a difference. For every group of people that isn’t interested in helping, there is somebody out there willing to be that one.
I have faith that there are plenty of warm-hearted people who know the joy that comes with giving instead of taking, offering instead of expecting, letting go instead of holding on. It is self improvement through improving the lives of others.
7. Practice mindfulness.
There is ALWAYS something beautiful and amazing going on around us. The problem is that we aren’t always paying attention. If you’re too focused on traffic jams and text messages, you may miss out on blossoming flowers and breathtaking sunsets.
Mindfulness is about being fully present to appreciate life’s most joyful moments. They are always there, waiting on you to notice.
8. Start journaling daily.
I can’t possibly say enough about journaling to fully express its value. It’s simple, nearly free, and convenient. If you will take a few minutes alone to write about your feelings and experiences each day, you’ll feel a load lift off your shoulders. Furthermore, you can sit back and look at your thoughts on paper after you’ve written them. If they are negative, you know you’re attracting more negativity. But you can use positive journaling to quickly turn that around.
9. Give subliminal messages and positive affirmations a try.
If you’ve been a regular reader of this blog, you know how much I love positive affirmations and subliminal messaging. The power of using these two together is absolutely phenomenal. The uses are limitless—stop smoking, lose weight, gain confidence, become a more positive thinker, and so much more.
10. Forgive someone.
If you’ve been holding a grudge against someone, it’s time to let it go. Resentment is poisonous—not to the other person, but to the person who refuses to forgive. If self improvement is important to you, realize that you are the only person you’re holding back when you hold a grudge. Forgiveness for others is the key that will set you free.
11. Live Fearlessly.
Fear, not money, is the root of all evil. It leads to everything from missed opportunities to war. As far as I know, there isn’t a way to completely wash away fear. However, each person gets to decide how to deal with it. Choose to live fearlessly. It’s as simple as refusing to let fear stand in your way.
Time for comments…Which of these self improvement ideas appeals most to you? What other ideas do you have for improving your life over the next 12 months?
Nea is a Life Transformation Coach who believes happiness should never be optional.
If you’re ready to live a happier, more fulfilling life and you want to know how Nea can help you overcome what stands in your way, contact her now or click the link here to learn more about life coaching
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Hi, I'm Nea. As a 
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These are very good suggestions. I totally agree with the docotor visits and what not. So many of the man made drugs have such horrible side affects that are in such tiny print that you look right over them (may cause your left arm to go limp everyday at 12:00 p.m LOLOL). Prior to visiting your site I have tried to implement several of these suggestions. I’m glad to see that I’m on the right track.
You’re funny Betty. It’s so true that some of those side effects are just off the wall- heart attack, depression, leaky bowels. Gee wiz. If you aren’t sick enough before the medicine, you can count on being sick after taking it.
I’m happy to hear that you’re already on a promising track…great for you. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you back here soon.
This is very good advice.
Happy New Year
Thanks Bunny. I hope your year is already off to an awesome start.
I agree very much with the first ten.
I think fear is very useful – we just need to be discerning about it.
Hi Evan. Living fearlessly simply means having the courage to move past your fears instead of letting fear get in your way. Hope you’re enjoying the new year.
What a very helpful tips here friend… Happy New year and wish me luck in improving myself.
Dearest Nea, Just stopped in to thank you for all the profound wisdom, honesty, courage, love and compassion you have shared this past year. You are a truly bright light in the world, and you open doors for so many with your courage, insight and heartfelt beauty. I just love you and am deeply grateful. Robin
PS I will read the rest of this post later, after work.
I already LOVE #10 and 11. YESSSSSSSS!!! So powerful! You ROCK!! Hugs, R xox
I love you dearest Robin. It’s always wonderful to see your shining smile here.
Hello Nea, the one thing I lose track of more than anything else is “Remember to have fun”. I’ve decided to really concentrate on on FUN for 2011!
Sounds like me, Stephen. I’ve designated some fun things to do at least 3 days per week. People don’t understand how difficult that is for me, though. I have fun doing my work, but I know it’s a great idea to do something that is totally recreational. I’m pulling out the board games and puzzles.
Dear Nea,
A very Happy New Year to you.
May all the things that you wish to do come true for you this year, and beyond.
This list I feel will always continue to be present in everything one does, for it is already a part of one’s life, including that of my own. I think the key is to remain truthful to oneself whatever area one further explores in.
Just letting you know that although I no longer update Expressive World, I blog elsewhere, and you are more than welcome to drop by there.
http://www.crafting-insights.com
So nice to be back on your site.
Enjoy x
I definitely miss the updates at Expressive World, but thanks for telling me about your new site. I’ll check it out, Ana.
Hi Nea,
I like the part on “to give”, i strongly believe to be a provider is always better than a taker. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post. Cheers
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
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