How to Grow in 2024
We are only one month into 2024, and I feel like I have grown so much. I knew I wanted to write this entry about how to grow this year, but I’ve been a little stuck on where to start. So, I’m voice texting in my car right now, hoping to find some inspiration. I do not want these blog entries to feel forced, but sometimes the weight of college responsibilities can use up the energy I reserve for my creative passions (like this one). That said, we are just gonna let the words flow and have a fun little talk about growth!
Growth is essential to life. Without growth, how are you supposed to evolve into your most prosperous, successful self? In order to grow, you need to explore, try, fail, create, discover, learn, dream, etc. Do not look at these action words as daunting obstacles, but rather challenges you have the pleasure of experiencing. That is what life is all about!
This brings me to the key ingredient: a growth mindset. I have been talking about the importance of a growth mindset for years and years at this point and my definition changes as I grow. I would define a growth mindset as more than just an ideal or concept but a lifestyle. The word growth by definition implies advancement and improvement. There is nothing more gratifying than watching your life begin to flourish from all of your hard work and effort.
By intentionally focusing on personal growth, one can broaden their perspective and genuinely transform into their most extraordinary selves. In this precious life I get to live, I believe my purpose is directly linked to occupying a growth mindset. A big part of growth is change. I talk about change a lot. While change can be super scary, change is actually good, even if your body has been conditioned to think otherwise. In order to grow, we need to change. In order to change, we need to accept our current situation. Once we do that, anything is possible.
One phrase that I tell myself when I am feeling stuck, stagnant, and unmotivated is that I desire to grow so much that I no longer recognize my former self, but in the most positive and constructive way. Staying stagnant in your life, your job, your mindset gets you nowhere. Do not fester, do not dwell, do not marinate in your lack of motivation. Instead, think of those action words from above. Here they are:)
Explore: go to a new place you’ve never been (near or far), and dive into your mind. The more you understand yourself, the easier it is to articulate your identity and comprehend your emotions.
Try: try something brand new and even better: something scary. Step out of your comfort zone and embrace discomfort.
Fail: failure is fuel. Fear is also fuel. Fear and failure do not go too well together, but are both essential components in growth. It is okay and normal to be bad at something. It is acceptable and encouraged to pick yourself back up and try it again.
Create: open your mind and find the creativity inside of you. This looks different for everyone, that is the whole point:)
Learn: I absolutely love to learn. I love gaining knowledge and bettering my understanding of the world and everything it has to offer.
Discover: be investigative with people, places and things. Be interested! Take whatever curiosity you have, and run with it.
Dream: those who dare to dream big, are of the boldest and bravest. Aspire to have gigantic dreams because we can do anything we set our minds to.
All of these actions unveil a chain of stepping stones. A mosaic tile path crafted to guide you on your growth journey. Each person’s journey is different, but our paths often cross and intersect. Find fellow travelers who want to learn, dream, and try just like you. Find support in your combined growth mindset and hold each other accountable. Celebrate the smallest of steps and the largest of leaps. Growth is not linear and neither is life, so grab tight to those who you want to keep close and enjoy the fabulous ride.
Now I’m going to talk about the two H’s that have directly impacted my growth in 2024.
Habits and Hobbies.
Establishing daily habits in your life sets a foundation of beneficial structure and routine. However you do not want to overdo it. Too rigid of a structure and you can feel like a robot, discouraged when you miss your 5:00am wake up time. Habits are intended to be both realistic and enjoyable. This year, I have started implementing 4 habits that I track daily. These behaviors include: sleeping for 7+ hours every night, reading, stretching and running. I keep track of my progress on Notion. If you do not know what Notion is please research it. My life has been changed. If you would like a blog entry on Notion, please let me know! I’m absolutely in love with the software and how it effortlessly organizes my life. These habits impact my mental and physical health in noticeably positive ways. I encourage you, the reader, hey! Hope you are doing good:) to introduce a few habits to your life. Celebrate productivity and form lasting growth in your life!
The other H is hobbies. If you do not have a hobby, find one. If you do not think you are the kind of person who has hobbies, think again. I am the biggest supporter of a side quest. Everyone needs at least one leisure activity to stay sane (in my expert opinion that is a fact, there has gotta be some evidence on that somewhere) Whether that is crocheting, birdwatching, playing an instrument, anything! The side quests are what make us interesting and jazz up an otherwise bland Hinge profile. My hobbies include this very blog, playing guitar, taking weekly ballet classes, baking and watching professional hockey. Take pride in your interests and keep them as public or private as you want. They are yours to enjoy and share with those you care about! Some hobbies are occasionally more enjoyable in groups so find peers on aligning growth journeys and cross paths! Make sure to set a healthy boundary when it comes to activities vs obligations. Your hobbies are meant to be enjoyed, cherished and separate from your mundane responsibilities, like work or school. That explanation might seem obvious, but some of these hobbies can feel like a box to check. If you start to feel like your hobbies have become chores, take a moment to reassess. You might have a disruption in your time management, and overall sense of contentment with the life you are living. Maybe your interest in that specific activity has developed into a new one! Our hobbies evolve and change just like we do, it’s normal.
I thought it would be fun to draw out my growth path!
Each stepping stone in my mosaic is represented by a different action word and what I hope to achieve from my efforts. This illustration helps me to visualize my growth and motivate me to reach all of my stepping stones. Try this out if you want!
How to Grow in 2024 (the list)
Adopt and practice a Growth Mindset
Utilize your action words: dream, learn, explore, etc.
Incorporate habits into your daily life
Find/get a hobby, or 2, or 3!
Connect deeper with peers you can grow alongside and flourish with!
2024 is a year of growing together and learning from each other! I hope you enjoyed this blog entry, I just added my drawing of my growth path to my Notion homepage:) When I look at all the colors, I get smiley and excited to see how I progress over the next 11 months! Have a great week and as always, HAGGO (Help A Growing Girl Out)
