Self-transform, make amends and enjoy a life of contentment

Often we have had moments of self-introspection in our lives where we have questioned ourselves- where is our life heading and what is the purpose of our life? We would have also felt the need to improve ourselves and the urge to explore ourselves better and walk on the path of personal growth. In pursuit of happiness, people today are actively adopting the path of personal transformation.

The journey of personal transformation:

Life is unpredictable and challenging. We never really know what might happen in the next two minutes or even two hours from now! Amid such unforeseen circumstances, knowing our purpose in life, outgrowing ourselves, and possessing the power to deal with roadblocks can feel satisfying. Investing in ourselves can be a truly rewarding and memorable experience, which only personal transformation can offer.

The process of self-transformation is all about knowing ourselves better, changing some aspects of who we are and how we are leading our lives, and taking action to bring about a transformation. It is a conscious, well-thought decision and a form of commitment to ourselves where we want to bring about a positive change.

The ultimate guide to personal transformation: Whether it is a homemaker, a corporate employee, an entrepreneur, a parent, a college student, or even a middle-aged adult, being vulnerable, not knowing how to handle a crisis, and inability to face setbacks is common. The bottom line is any individual can be prone to negativity and issues in any aspect of one’s life. And all of us are looking for solutions or the path to obtaining the solution. It is a personal transformation that we are in search of.

The very core of self-transformation lies in a positive state of mind. And the key to personal transformation is in understanding that the changes come from within. If we want to lay a strong foundation for a better tomorrow, then ‘now’ is the right time to take a closer look at the only thing we can change to achieve the same: ourselves.

Here is a six-step guide for a successful personal transformation experience:

A clear vision: The first step in this journey begins with simple questions - What do you want to achieve in life and why is it important to me personally?

Seeking answers to them will help you identify the purpose of your life. The ultimate goal is to become a better version of ourselves. Having said that, a specific, well-defined goal is essential to walk on the right path and track your progress. When it comes to specific goals think across multiple areas of your life; health, relationships, emotional well-being, career, finances, adventures and experiences you would like.

Take it slow but be consistent: Rome was not built in a day! Similarly, personal transformation cannot happen overnight. It is a gradual process and it certainly won’t be a linear pathway. On some days, the progress will be tremendous, and on some days, you’ll find yourself taking a few steps back. Recognise that this is the path towards growth and understand that there is no other path that doesn’t include setbacks. This understanding keeps us moving forward and making consistent progress toward our goals.

Learn and upskill yourself: An integral step in the self-transformation process is to increase your knowledge bank. Utilize the power of the internet and read inspirational stories about people who conquered their fears and emerged victorious and learn about tips and tricks from people who created their own personal transformation pathway. Read books, browse through blogs, groups and communities and watch documentaries. Connect with likeminded people, socialize with them and gather first-hand accounts of their respective journeys. Who knows, you could end up making some long-lasting friendships and find a mentor who will be able to guide you on your journey!

Once you have a positive environment around you, your innate passion will drive you to make efforts every day and the inspiring stories of community members will motivate you to take another step in your journey ahead.

Embrace the change: Transformation will be a challenging journey and will require bidding goodbye to comfort and stability. Growth will be accompanied by discomfort and fear. You will have to step into new environments, meet new people and build connections. The sooner you realize and accept this, the faster you will be able to embrace the self-transformation process. You will have to push yourself to work through it and shouldn’t let anything put you down.

Track your progress: Once you achieve your goals and look back at how far you have come, your heart will be filled with a sense of pride and achievement. Hence, it's strongly recommended to break down your vision and journey into milestones, sub-goals, and stages. This will help you keep track of your progress, observe the small goals you accomplish and even give you an opportunity to celebrate small victories as you go along the way, further pushing you to keep up the momentum.

The right perspective: Throughout your personal transformation journey, having the right approach and perspective is critical for your success. You must understand life isn’t about accomplishment or glamour. It’s about meaningful experiences and enjoying every moment. We should lead healthy, happy and fulfilling lives and not waste them in anxiety, fear or stress. Remember, personal transformation will guide you on that very path.

Summing up: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade! This proverbial phrase encourages optimism and suggests that any adversity in life (compared with the sourness of lemons) can be dealt with a positive attitude. We can imbibe such an optimistic approach only when we have covered the journey of personal transformation and have outgrown it as an individual.

Self-transformation paves the way for self-improvement and changes our lives for the better. The process is long and continuous and requires patience, hard work persistence, and, most importantly, a mentor. Today, there are various dedicated organizations providing access to proven life design strategies, a holistic approach to transformation, fun and immersive learning experiences, and the opportunity to attend specially curated retreats, summits, festivals, etc. Such companies are turning personal growth into lifelong adventure and facilitating learning about different life aspects and personal breakthroughs while fostering connections with the sole objective of helping people achieve their personal, business, and spiritual goals.

(The writer is the co-founder of Lifeplugin)