Pranay, Week 12: The Power of Self-Improvement

On New Year's Eve, we probably all come with some kind of resolution; "I'll work out four times a week" or "I'll read a book a week." But do we ever follow through with these notions; almost never. 

Resolutions stem from a desire to improve oneself. According to Merriam-Webster, self-improvement is the act of improving oneself by one's own actions. It allows us to focus ourselves and almost always yields in positive change even though it takes time before any results are seen. It may take months or even years, and it requires individuals to focus on themselves above all else. 

Some people may think that they do not have time to prioritize themselves due to other obligations like family or school. However, self-improvement can be as simple as meditating or waking up fifteen minutes earlier. Simple acts such as this can improve mental and physical health, relationships, and a person's overall quality of living. 

image from Psychology Today
Personally, self-improvement has been something that I've been in the pursuit of for many years. Unfortunately, I never found myself sticking to what I told myself I would to. I realized that self-improvement is not about putting pressure on yourself but progressing one step at a time, no matter how small the step is. It has made me stronger, happier, and more confident, reflected by my increased ability to  be a leader. My main takeaway is that if you are planning on trying self-improvement, it is important to recognize that it is a long and trying progress. 

Recently, I've started a program called "75 Hard" which includes drinking a gallon of water a day, reading ten pages of a book, and getting eight hours of sleep. I try to stick to this regime everyday, but I don't get disappointed if I'm not successful. It has been forty days since I started it, and I've noticed my mental toughness improving.


Comments

  1. Jiya ShahMarch 5, 2024 at 11:20 PM

    Hi Pranay, I liked the start of your blog by asking a question about following our New Year resolution and I never do that. I also liked how you used Merriam-Webster's quote to explain the desire to have a resolution in the new year. I agree with that quote as resolution helps us improve and helps us prioritize ourselves. Every year people have a new resolution but barely anyone follows it which is sad. Self-improvement is important and I liked how you give examples of self-improvement that are not time time-consuming, as many people assume self-improvement takes up a lot of time. The example also gave me a new perspective on self-improvement. I liked how you mentioned your journey toward self-improvement, and I agree with you on how self-improvement is a “long and trying process.” It can take time and dedication to see the results. After reading about the progress, you made from the “75 hard” program I also want to try that and hopefully, my mental health will also improve as yours did. Overall, I enjoyed reading your blog as it was a unique topic and I hope you continue the 75 Hard program.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ethan NguyenMarch 6, 2024 at 6:23 PM

    Hello, Pranay. I liked the relatable introductory statement that acknowledged exactly how readers, like myself, felt on New Year’s Eve. The Merriam-Webster definition also elaborated on what exactly you meant for the blog. Lines like “self-improvement is not about putting pressure on yourself but progressing one step at a time” showed insightfulness by recognizing this thoughtful distinction. Also, the example of the 75 Hard self-improvement program added a personal level to reinforce the blog with this real life example of your experience. Overall, the blog portrayed the idea of self-improvement in a positive light that served to inform and create a relatable experience.

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  3. Danial HashemiMarch 6, 2024 at 8:56 PM

    Hi Pranay,

    I enjoyed the start of your blog since I can relate to coming up with a resolution I never stick to at the start of every New Year. I feel a large misconception about self-improvement is that it is directly correlated with self-isolation. Most influencers on social media preach isolation and going "off the grid" to improve oneself, but this has detrimental effects on mental health and eventually leads to burnout. In my opinion, the best way to go about self-improvement is with balance, not restricting yourself from everything that brings you joy but also making efforts to cut down on distractions. I agree that meditation is one of the best ways to practice self-improvement. While I do not practice meditation myself, my close friends who meditate believe they feel more healthy and refreshed because of it. I feel the most difficult challenge with self-improvement is staying consistent because of the difficulty in staying focused on achieving your goals, especially with all the distractions in modern society so it's extremely inspirational how committed you are to self-improvement and staying consistent.

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