Strive for lifelong learning that goes further than book smarts. Specifically, learn mental skills and actions that supports your continuous personal development.
The smartest person is the one who can recognize and accept there is always room to learn more about who they are, and areas for personal growth. We are all imperfect beings who has aspects of our personality, mindset and behaviors that can improve. Also, we benefit most from pushing ourselves to new levels which is not possible without changing aspects of ourselves – how we think and what we do.
How To Practice An Open And Willing Attitude Of Learning For Personal Development
Being your greatest self is a lifelong practice of remaining open and engaging in learning about who you, what is working well and openly identifying what needs to change. The process must include the practice of being self-aware.
There are certain attitudes that will help you be much more receptive to learning about what areas of yourself needs to change. For instance, having a genuine openness to expressing and hearing different perspectives will allow you to exchange information and ideas which will help you assess what needs to change.
Merely acknowledging and talking about it is not enough. Most importantly, engage in actions of change by being a different person through your mindset and attitude, then doing differently in your actions.
Ideal characteristics and practices for cultivating an attitude of learning:
- Identify why you value personal development, and live it
- Practice identifying and embody values through your actions
- Believe there is always something to learn about yourself and others
- Practice being curious through asking questions
- Set high expectations for yourself
- Practice setting daily intentions to do your best
- Focus on always being open to engaging in behaviors that promote learning something new
- Practice respectful exploration of learning new ideas and opinions – both professional and personal
- Demonstrate fairness in how you treat yourself
- Practice appreciation and support of positive changes by taking time to acknowledge, celebrate and offer rewards; avoid negative communication (e.g. belittling word choices)
Keep a focused determination toward remaining open to learning, because changing and growing are the ingredients for being your greatest self. They all are involved in the process of being a better YOU. It is truly worth it.
On a daily or weekly basis, review and assess your mindset and attitude to monitor how you are progressing for personal development.
Questions to assess yourself during the process of intentional personal development:
- How did I engage with myself and others?
- What were the positive interactions, and what were missteps?
- How did my actions match my values?
- What were the effects of not having my actions match my values?
- What different choices I can make in the future?
- What did I learn?
- How am I implementing what I learned?
Truly living out your life is a continuous opportunity to learn and change. In support of your personal development, aim for lifelong learning and willingness to change.
So, ask yourself:
What am I doing to better myself?
How am I leaving myself open and willing to change?
