“Your level of success will rarely exceed your level of personal development,
because success is something you attract by the person you become.”
That famous quote, by renowned entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn, captures a vital truth: personal growth is key to achieving success. Despite understanding this, many of us neglect our development, opting instead for more work hours or passive entertainment. This neglect often results in moderate life satisfaction, with surveys indicating an average happiness rating of just 6.7 out of 10. By prioritizing personal development, we can transform our lives, achieve greater success, and boost overall satisfaction.
The good news is that personal development is more accessible than you might think. Hal Elrod, author of the bestselling book The Miracle Morning, discovered that the most effective practices used by top entrepreneurs, such as meditation and visualization, are simple yet powerful. Initially, Elrod almost dismissed these familiar techniques in favor of newer trends. However, he concluded that these fundamental strategies are what the most successful people rely on. His advice? Don’t overlook tried-and-true methods for the latest trends; they remain effective for a reason.
Six steps to personal development
Most of us benefit from taking organized, systematic steps toward a goal. Hal Elrod realized that committing to all effective strategies, rather than just one or two, was the key to success. He created the Life S.A.V.E.R.S. system, which frames six essential components of personal development into manageable pieces to help you stay on track:
Silence: Engage in meditation, prayer, or any method that quiets the mind, helping to regain calmness and focus.
Affirmations: Often misunderstood, affirmations are effective when you think positively about your goals and the actions needed to achieve them.
Visualization: Visualizing your ideal outcome can reduce your drive to work towards it. The key is to envision yourself doing the necessary work in the present to achieve your long-term vision.
Exercise: Increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain boosts cognitive function and mental capacity, providing the clarity needed to “crush every single day,” as Elrod puts it.
Reading: Consistently reading self-help books and articles keeps you focused on self-improvement. Just 10 pages a day can lead to significant growth over time.
Scribing: Keeping a journal, especially a daily gratitude journal, can boost personal growth. Writing down three things you’re grateful for each day, even small things, harnesses the power of gratitude.
The early bird
Hal Elrod emphasizes a crucial caveat about personal development practices: “You have to prioritize your own development, or you’ll find ways to ignore it.” Often, we sacrifice personal and health-related activities for work, neglecting essential growth opportunities. Elrod stresses that how you start your day is pivotal to your success: “It’s literally the linchpin to your success and to reaching the next level.”
To avoid procrastination, Elrod encourages starting your routine early. This approach ensures you reap the benefits of practices like meditation and exercise when making important decisions throughout the day. If waking up earlier seems daunting, Elrod offers simple tips to help:
- Set your intentions before bed: Your first thought in the morning mirrors your last thought before sleep. Decide how you want to feel upon waking.
- Put your alarm clock across the room: This forces you to get out of bed to turn it off, making you instantly more awake.
- Start your day with a full glass of water: Hydrate immediately after waking to prime your body for action, rather than reaching for coffee.
By incorporating these easy steps, you’ll find yourself fully awake and ready to seize the day, making significant strides in personal development.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the time we spend on ourselves may have a big impact on our ability to pursue what we most want from life and achieve the great things we aspire to. But the right intention and focus are crucial, of course. Make the time you focus on yourself a true investment one that can generate real returns by taking steps that will help you improve in meaningful ways and truly live your own best life. Or, to once again quote Jim Rohn: “It takes a person of character and discipline to be successful for a long time.”
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