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Originally Posted by DiscoDan  I happen to disagree with you on this one. Self-improvement, when done correctly, can only lead to positive outcomes. The key is to not look for those positive outcomes explicitly. This may sound counterintuitive (why try to improve at all if you aren't actively looking for these improvements?), but it helps to keep you from failing to meet your own expectations.
Here's what I personally do: I notice an area of my life that needs improvement, and actively search for ways to improve that area. Then I set a plan into action, and give it three months without looking for any results whatsoever. After three months are up, I compare my situation before and after. If I'm better off now, great. I will keep doing what I'm doing. If not, I look for another plan, and give that one three months.
It also helps to not take on too much "improvement" at once. I try to focus on only one or two areas that I feel will improve my life the most. Then, once I have those areas covered, I move on from there. Limiting your focus to only one or two areas at a time does wonders for "burn out" syndrome. |
Yeah, it's mainly a perspective thing.
Rather than see ourselves as the sum total of our entire life's achievements we tend to see the current project's up or downward status as the 'all' that matters 'right now'.
On a sidenote, how much of our 'perspective' is shaped by Madison Avenue?