I think that I’ve lost count on how many times I've read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and personally I don't), it just seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as heroes almost, living the fairytale life of riches and glamour. I suppose we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality that no one is perfect and they do not deserve to be idolized anymore than you or I do when it comes down to it.
There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self, especially if it means comparing ourselves to others. I mean, I have had personal issues in my own life where I was let down by someone and it was totally devastating to me because I based so much of who I was on who I thought they were. We are responsible for our own actions, not those of others who will let us down eventually.
So what does it take to be your own hero in business and in life? Here are some of the things that I have come up with that I think will improve who you are based on you and isn’t dependant on the actions of a hero or mentor. In order to truly be successful, you must be your own hero.
1. Know your purpose
Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.
This may seem tricky at first, especially if you find yourself in a tight spot or even a dead end. But there's always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself simply by determining what your purpose is.
2. Know your values
What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals for 2015 - check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it because any goal counterintuitive to your values will cause you to waffle on those goals.
3. Know your needs
Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed over it.
List your top four needs and determine if they are legitimate needs that should be met or if they are counteractive to your purpose in life and need to be modified. Some have needs based on addictions, lack of education, etc. All of these needs are not real needs, but uncontrolled desires.
4. Know your passions
You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be.
Your passions are those things in your life that help drive you. If your purpose involves your passions then achieving any goal is possible.
5. Live from the inside out
Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regular reflection. Commune with nature, take a spa day, take an entire day to lock yourself away somewhere just you and your hobby; get away and recharge your battery.
For most of us city slickers it's hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. I personally love hiking old nature trails, sometimes I will take a sketch book with me and just disappear for a day, sometimes two.
6. Honor your strengths
What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify a few. Are you imaginative, witty, or good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.
7. Serve others
When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others.
As I often quote, Zig Ziglar said, “you will get everything in life that you want, if you just help enough people get what they want.”
Self-improvement is indeed worth it. It shouldn't lie within the confines of an office building or in the four corners of your own room. The real difference lies within us and is determined by how much we want to change for the better.
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