How do we pursue self-growth? What things can we do to challenges ourselves to grow and to become self-actualized? This blog post will focus on explaining how to engage in self-growth and what self-actualization. Lastly, the blog post will highlight how mental health and self-growth are intricately intertwined and the benefits of working with a therapist near you to break through mental barriers.
Why is Self-Growth Important?
Self-growth works in many ways to foster and sustain a person’s identity and self-esteem. Think of the times when you have tried to accomplish something and have failed. Most often, there is a sinking pit in our stomach or negative thoughts about ourselves that follow these events. It’s so important to return to activities that we have failed as this build perseverance, grit, and resilience. These characteristics then influence how we approach future challenges.
Human beings grow mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually from the day we are born. Self-growth allows us to build self-confidence and navigate the world with a sense of meaning and pride. Without this, we may feel adrift and without purpose or value to the larger society.
How Do We Pursue Self-Growth?
Each person needs to find their own way to pursue self-growth. Often engaging in self-reflection and introspection can highlight methods to pursue self-growth. Sometimes, highlighting our personal values and engaging in committed action to bring these values into fruition can support overall self-growth, which then positively influences self-esteem and confidence.
Understanding the interconnection between self-growth and mental health cannot be understated. If we are unable to face problems or don’t know how, people can experience depression, anxiety, and find themselves highly influenced by external factors throughout life. This can then result in a lack of connection and meaning in life.
Five Easy Ways to Pursue Self-Growth
Lean into discomfort
Prioritize your wellbeing
Engage in self-reflection/introspection
Build habits and routines that revolve around bettering yourself
Seek out challenges
Mental Health and Self-Growth
Our self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth (also known as sense-of-self) directly impact how we navigate the world. Life stressors can wear down our sense-of-self, which is why maintaining our sense-of-self is utterly important. When our sense-of-self is rooted in a strong foundation we are able to buffer against stressors in life, which can protect our overall mental health and/or our mental health recovery.
As noted by Maslow and referenced by Wichita State University, self-actualization is at the top the pyramid of human development. Self-growth is typically individually focused. Self-actualization involves not only challenging ourselves but finding ways to give back and improve the quality of life for the broader society at large.
Often, we are not taught or shown how to build or increaseour sense-of-self. Mental health therapy is a great way to reflect on and highlight past events that have contributed to a person’s sense-of-self. Additionally, psychotherapy can support a person learning new ways to foster a healthy self-image and esteem. Allow therapy to support to support and help you heal past wounds that keep you trapped. Click here to begin the healing process.
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