Personal Growth in the New Year

During this time of year, many people reflect on the past and looking forward to the future. Some people create a list of “New Year’s Resolutions,” both personal and professional, in hopes of making the upcoming year even better than the one before.

If you need help getting started on your resolutions/goals, check out our recent article titled, “Setting Goals for the New Year”. This article is full of tips that helps you change the way you think about resolutions/goals, set “SMART” goals, stay focused, and form habits to carry on through years to come.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education/Learning is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” So while you are setting goals to eat healthier or save more money this year, don’t forget about your personal growth.

Here are some ideas to further your personal growth in the new year:

Create a Personal Growth Plan for yourself. Take some time to write down how you would like to grow and what you would like to accomplish this year. Once you have your resolutions/goals written down, share them with a loved one and ask them to hold you accountable throughout the year.

Another idea is to set resolutions as a family, or with your team. Post them in your home/work space.

Find and participate in a new activity you’ve not tried before. Some examples would be Toast Masters, theater, a sports team, a cooking class, a photography class, etc. Take this idea a step further by teaching someone else what you learned.

Read a book. It doesn’t matter if you are a college student, a full-time employee, or retired, I truly believe you can never “learn too much.” Check out a local library or book store and find a book on something that interests you.

Each year, we share a suggested reading list with our employees around our pillars of Faith, Financial Well-Being, Health & Wellness, and Personal Growth. Some of our favorite books related to Personal Growth are:

Personal growth is about being committed to continual learning, developing our individual talents, and doing what we can to reach our potential both personally and professionally. This year, I encourage you to make one small change towards your development.