Road to Self-Improvement: 0
There has been a massive push in recent years for self-improvement. Thousands of articles and countless hours of videos exist dedicated on how to improve yourself. However, a big question that should be answered first is, “why should I bother to improve myself?” If so many people are chasing improvement, then it must have merit. The merit lies in the idea of having a life worth living. Self-improvement is important because it will lead to happiness, betterment, and fulfillment. Not just for yourself, but for those around you that you care about.
Two Modes of Life
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson concluded that there are only two ways of living. Either nothing is meaningful, or everything is. If you choose to believe that nothing is meaningful, then nothing you do matters, and it would be pointless to strive for self-improvement. That said, just because you think that nothing matters, does not mean you get to not suffer. It just means that your suffering is not justified. You are left in a state where you will experience life’s pain with no way to give that suffering meaning. You will also exist with no purpose.
The other side of the coin is that all things matter. This idea is equally difficult. It means you have to take responsibility for things in your life. If you do something wrong or waste your time, it means you have made a choice that makes things more difficult. It means that you’re suffering for a reason, and you have to understand that reason. However, the upside is that you can justify that suffering! You might run into a ditch and have to accept that some of it was your fault. However, you might also learn how not to repeat that mistake and how to fix a flat tire too. At the end, though you had that rough experience, you also reach your destination, which can make the whole trip worthwhile
Change Yourself
If you choose to believe that everything matters, then self-improvement is the natural next step. Things on your journey might be rough. You are likely contributing to that suffering somehow. If you want to reduce suffering and make life worth living, then you should take to improving your situation. The way you improve your surroundings is by fixing yourself. As you slowly improve and change to become the best version of yourself possible, your situation will change and align with your new way of life. For instance, if you stop drinking often and spend time working on your passion, you will find that your friend group will shift from people who like drinking to those who are proactive in their field. The change will happen all across your life until you have become someone unlike who you once were. You will be able to see more around you as your life becomes more clear.
The reason for self-improvement is not for the sake of telling others you are better. The reason to improve is to give yourself and those around you a better life. If someone you care about very deeply is negatively affected by the way you live, it is your responsibility to yourself and them to become better. If you do so, those around you will find their lives enriched by yours. You will have a more powerful and positive effect on everything and everyone around you. This will make your life worth living. You, your family, and your friends will appreciate you more for it.
Images by Haley Agra. Support her on Instagram: haleiagra
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