People who undertake Personal Transformation possess thePersonal Transformation is how we change aspects of who we are, what we do, and the life we lead. It is both the journey – ‘I am transforming’ – and the destination – ‘I am transformed’. Engaging in Personal Transformation is a statement of positive intent. It marks a point at which we say to ourselves:
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- Who I am is not who I want to be.
- What I am doing is not what I want to be doing.
- The life I am leading is not the one I want to be leading.
Personal Transformation, therefore, is an intentional, conscious commitment to getting us to the point when we can say, “I am who I want to be, I am doing what I want to be doing, and I am living the life I want to be living.” Successful Personal Transformation lies at the heart of positive mental health and wellbeing and is the subject of this blog.
People who undertake Personal Transformation possess the self-awareness to know they don’t want their lives to carry on as they are. Without self-awareness, Personal Transformation isn’t an option because there is nothing to transform to the person lacking it!
Personal Transformation is not without its challenges, so those who engage in it also tend to have good levels of self-belief, confidence, and, importantly, support. While some people are happy and content to remain as they are, choosing a lifestyle that makes few demands on them, many see Personal Transformation as an ongoing commitment to be the best version of themselves. If you haven’t so far, maybe ask yourself why. Or, if you have, but it didn’t work out as you would have liked, consider how your approach can be different next time around.
Dedicated periods of Personal Transformation can happen at any time, of course, but they often follow a catalyst of some kind. For example, unhappiness, boredom or simply the need for a new challenge may lead to a reappraisal of our lives and the knowledge that something needs to change. Or when we may experience a change in our personal or professional circumstances such as marriage or divorce, promotion or redundancy. However, not all Personal Transformation is so deliberate or conscious, such as when it occurs naturally during routine if critical life stages, such as moving from education into work, changing careers, or stepping into new life roles such as becoming a partner or parent.
The main reason why people commit to their Personal Transformation is to achieve specific outcomes in life. While it can be hard at times, investing in ourselves can be a rewarding and enjoyable journey. And in arriving at our desired destination, when looking back at how far we have come and how much we have changed, we can feel a sense of pride and achievement. As such, Personal Transformation helps us to thrive and survive and enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing. Life is always making demands of us, and it can feel satisfying when we are able to meet those demands by transforming who we are and what we do. One thing is sure if we don’t work on our Personal Transformation, life will inevitably make demands on us that we will be unable to meet.
Just as Personal Transformation can happen at any time, it can also take place anywhere. Where it happens will be determined by the nature of the transformation being committed to. For example, the home might be the focus of someone aiming to become a better parent or the workplace for someone keen to develop professionally. When we think about it, there is an almost unlimited number of places and spaces, such as colleges, gyms, sports clubs, and churches. But Personal Transformation doesn’t just happen externally to us, of course! It happens inside, too, in our bodies and imaginations. Personal Transformation can happen in many ways.
Here are just some that I use in my practice.
1. Talk to people you trust about how your life is, to see what emerges. Often people close to us can help us discover where change needs to happen or where our blind spots are. Contact a therapist or life coach if you don’t have that person or need a new perspective. Tell them you think the time has come to embark on your journey of Personal Transformation.
2. Develop your self-awareness to discover whether there are any areas of your life you would like to transform. There are many ways to do this, some of which are below:
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- Get a pen and paper. Write down what comes to mind regarding your everyday thoughts, behaviors, and feelings/emotions and the areas of your life to which they relate. Are they generally positive or negative? If positive, can they be improved? If negative, what needs addressing?
- Break down your life into critical areas such as yourself, home, work, relationships, and connection to the world. Spend some quiet time reflecting on these areas and whether any suggest themselves as candidates for transformation.
3. Reread your favorite book or re-watch your favorite film because if stories are about anything, it is Personal Transformation! There will be a reason why your favorite story has grabbed and stayed with you. Look for your clues because they are often there.
4. Take my 0-10 Challenge. For the areas listed below, choose a number representing where you are now, followed by a number representing where you would like to be. Describe what your life is like after reaching your desired number. Ask yourself what is different from your life now to show you where your areas of transformation lie.
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- Yourself – self-esteem, self-worth, identity
- Past, present, or future
- Home and family life
- Relationships
- Work, career, professional situation
- Health and wellbeing
- Financial
- Lifestyle
- Social and cultural
- Environment
Source: conversationswithimpact.com ~ By: Mark Evans ~ Image: Canva Pro
