If you’re here with us, you’re probably curious about how to achieve personal growth. You may even be looking for a mental health professional to help you out.
Thinking along similar lines?
If so, you’re in the right place! In this blog, we will discuss what personal growth means and how it affects mental health.
Personal Growth, what is it?
Personal growth is not just any other buzzword you hear all over the place. Wondering what it actually means? Simply put, it’s all about becoming the best version of yourself. Yeah, THAT simple.
It’s easier to remember it this way–– recall when you were a kid and you couldn’t wait to grow taller? Personal growth is somewhat like that. Except, it’s for your brain and soul. It’s about learning, changing, and sometimes it’s uncomfortable (like those growing pains), but it’s so worth it in the end.
Why should you care?
Personal growth is not something that only fancy self-help gurus will teach you. It’s democratic. It’s for you, me, every one of us. It helps you handle life’s curveballs better while building awesome relationships and feeling more satisfied with your life overall. Pretty cool?
The Secret to Personal Growth
So how does mental health fit into all this? You know how a car needs a good engine to run smoothly? Your mental health is like the engine of your personal growth journey.
When your mental health is in good shape, you’re better equipped to:
- Deal with stress (because let’s face it, life can be a real pain sometimes)
- Make decisions without feeling like your brain is tied in knots
- Build relationships that don’t make you want to pull your hair out
- Actually enjoy life instead of just trudging through it
But here’s the thing, just like you wouldn’t ignore a weird noise coming from your car engine, you shouldn’t ignore your mental health. It needs regular check-ups and maintenance too.
The Fantastic Four: Pillars of Personal Growth
Okay, enough of the boring part. Imagine personal growth as an adaptable treehouse. You can be sure that it will never fall by installing four strong pillars—emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual health—you can be sure that it will never fall.
Let’s break them down:
1. Emotional health: Letting Your Emotions Out
When we refer to emotional health, we mean that you identify your emotions and address them emotionally. It’s not about smiling every minute of the day (because let’s be real, that would be too much and quite creepy). Instead, it’s about:
- Identifying your emotions: “Oh hey, I’m feeling frustrated right now.”
- Expressing feelings in healthy ways: Instead of watching endless videos, try taking a few deep breaths or going for a quick walk.
- Control, not be controlled: You are in control here, your feelings are not!
When everything’s good in the emotional world, you are less likely to be the one who has loud breakdowns in public (we are not judging) and more likely to take life as it comes and be like a champion.
2. Psychological health: Your Mind is Important
Envisioning psychological health as your brain’s stamina would help. It’s about:
- How you feel and react to different situations
- Your ability to memorize things (don’t tell me you are forgetting where you left your keys for the 10th time!)
- Your self-confidence and general attitude to life
Having a healthy mind means thinking clearly and straightforwardly. It means devising solutions to whatever crisis you face and positively relating to your capabilities.
3. Social health: If You Want to be Happy, Connect with Others
Social health is paramount unless you’re set on living like a recluse (no judgment if you are). It’s all about:
- Building and maintaining relationships that don’t make you want to hide under your bed
- Communicating effectively (without constantly inserting your foot in your mouth)
- Setting boundaries (because no, you can’t always “hang out” when you really need alone time)
When your social well-being flourishes, you are surrounded by people who will never let you down. Besides that, you won’t experience the feeling of having two left feet when you’re at social events.
4. Spiritual health: Discover Your ‘Why’
Before you start thinking, “Oh no, is this going to get all religious?”, don’t worry! Spiritual health is not about religion (but it could be if you’re into that).
It’s more about:
- Finding meaning and purpose in your life
- Connecting with something bigger than yourself (whether that’s nature, art, or yes, a higher power if you’re into that)
- Having a set of values that guide your decisions
Good spiritual health provides you with a sense of direction and assists you in feeling anchored when things go haywire (which, let’s be honest, is pretty often).
Let’s Get This Personal Growth Party Started!
Right, now you are aware of the four pillars. But how do you start working with it? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Follow these actionable steps to start your personal growth journey:
Set Some Goals (But Don’t Go Crazy)
You need to set goals but start small. Don’t make it a point to change your life starting next Tuesday. That’s a recipe for disappointment and probably a nervous breakdown.
Instead, consider one small thing you can do for each pillar. Perhaps it’s:
- Emotional: Practice naming your emotions once a day
- Psychological: Read a book on a topic you know nothing about
- Social: Reach out to one friend you haven’t talked to in a while
- Spiritual: Spend 5 minutes a day in quiet contemplation (or just staring at the ceiling, whatever works)
Write down these aims for a place where you will see them frequently. Your phone, a sticky note on your forehead, whatever works for you.
Get Your Reflection On
No, I don’t mean looking at yourself in the mirror (although hey, if that helps, go for it). I want you to take some time to think about your day, your feelings, your actions.
Try this: At the end of each day, ask yourself these questions:
- What went well today?
- What could have gone better?
- What did I learn?
- How did I take care of my mental health today?
You’ll not have to write a whole novel. Start noticing patterns and areas where you can focus your growth efforts with a few quick thoughts.
Don’t Be a Lone Wolf
Remember that we discussed social health? Well recall that concept because this is where it comes in handy. Just because it is called ‘persona’ growth does not mean that you have to be alone. In fact, trying to do it alone is usually a fast track to Frustration City.
Connect with friends, family, or online communities (Reddit?) of people working on the same goals as you. Share your journey, ask for advice, and celebrate your wins (even the tiny ones). Having a support system that can help you a lot is very important.
And hey, speaking of not going it alone…
Know When to Call in the Pros
Who does not need help! If you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just in doubt about where to start, it might be a good idea to talk to a mental health professional.
If you want to get fit, you might hire a personal trainer, right? Similarly, a therapist or counselor is like a personal trainer for your mind. They give you personalized strategies, help you work through (nasty) stuff, and cheer you on this personal growth journey.
There’s absolutely no shame in seeking help. On the contrary, believe it or not, it is a sign of strength. It shows you are serious about your mental health and personal growth. Besides, therapy can be pretty awesome once you find the right fit.
The Never-Ending Story (In a Good Way)
Personal growth should be considered a process, not a goal. You don’t just go to bed at night and say, “Now I am a complete person, and I have nothing left to learn. It’s time for me to watch TV for the rest of my life.” (Don’t get me wrong; I can get my fill of TV if I need to.)
It is a process. It never stops. There are days when you fly and days when you stumble. Sometimes even one step forward and two back. And this is absolutely okay! The most crucial thing is that you are putting in the effort.
Do you remember those four pillars we discussed previously? They are not different spheres. They are all entwined, thus moving together. When you concentrate on one area, you may find that other areas also develop. This is akin to a domino effect, but instead of the whole thing collapsing, the whole thing is growing stronger.
So, as you journey on this road of self-discovery, be easy on yourself. Be happy with the small achievements. Accept the losses. Most importantly, be gentle and compassionate with yourself during this journey.
Wrapping It Up
Alright, time for a quick recap.
- Personal development aims to become the optimal version of the self.
- Personal growth is indeed important for mental health.
- Emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual health comprise personal growth’s four pillars.
- To begin with, you can start small, reflect at least sometimes, and depend on your friends, and professional help is not even the last resort.
- Growth is the journey of life and certainly not the destination.
Be resilient—it is all in your hands! Making little changes will lead to big progress. Besides, if you find it difficult to cope with changes, you can turn to mental health experts like me.
So, what do you say? Ready to start building that strong mental health foundation and rock this personal growth thing? Let’s get it!
Online Therapy in Florida, Idaho, South Carolina, and Utah
At Calming Transformations Counseling, our therapists acknowledge the difficulties that can come on the path to personal growth. We also serve those with anxiety, stress, depression, or relationship issues, who may be religious. Sessions can be held through online therapy in the states of Florida, Idaho, South Carolina or Utah, or walk and talk therapy in Hillsborough County, Florida. Book an appointment or contact us today to schedule a session and take the first step toward a more peaceful life.
