How to Be a Better Human Part 2: A Collection of Essays on Personal Growth
These atomic essays were originally written as part of Ship 30 for 30 and posted on Twitter. I've copied the essay content here so it isn't just lost in the endlessness of the Twitter feed. Enjoy!
Personal Growth Is Not A Race
In 2012, I realized something wasn't working in my life.
I'd done all the things I was supposed to do (college, job, marriage, kid), but I couldn't stop thinking, "Is this all there is to life?" I looked around at my friends and family and wondered why everyone else seemed fine to just go along with the status quo while it made me miserable.
I desperately wanted to be "normal" like everyone else, but I'm not wired that way.
One night, on a whim, I decided to consult Google and see what came up. I can't remember now exactly what I typed – something like "why don't I feel happy in my life?" One of the top results was a post on a forum from a Life Coach that would change the course of my life - I just wouldn't realize it until later.
There is no destination in personal growth
Sometimes it feels like I should be further along and maybe if I pushed myself harder or took a different path I would be.
But if I actually compare myself now to that girl 10 years ago – desperately wishing she could just be "normal" – I am a completely different person. It doesn't matter that the path to now was long and winding.
When it comes to personal growth, the only thing that matters is that you keep going – at whatever pace works for you.
See the original atomic essay on Twitter
Want to Develop More Self-Awareness? Start Here
If you've been reading my essays you know I'm all about finding your own way to do...well, everything. 😊
But what happens if you don't know who you are, how your mind works or what your strengths are?
Enter: Personality Tests
Whether you love them or hate them, personality tests can be a helpful tool in understanding yourself better.
So which test should you take?
Here Are A Few of the Popular Tests
I'm sure there are many others, but any of these are a good place to start. Remember: Personality tests are not the ultimate authority on you, they are just a tool.
See the original atomic essay on Twitter
Wanting More For Your Life Isn't A Bad Thing
I've always seen the world differently than other people.
I spent most of my 20's doing what I was supposed to do by society's standards...yet it all felt empty.
I couldn't figure out why everyone else seemed ok just going along with the status quo. I was convinced something must be wrong with me.
What I realized?
Being Different Is a Superpower
I'll never be content to spend my life working at a job I hate and binging wine and Netflix every night, only to do it all over again tomorrow.
I want something more for my life.
I want to ponder the meaning of life, come up with theories on why the hell we're all here on this spinning ball, and figure out how to make the most of the human experience.
I want to have new experiences and meet interesting people who also want more from life. And most of all, I want to share my experiences with everyone I can, in the hope that I'll inspire them to want more too.
Because when enough of us embrace being different and pursuing more? We show the world that there is more to life than just getting through it.
As cliché as it is, changing the world is a worthwhile goal
Wanting more isn't bad or selfish, it's making the most of your life and giving others permission to do the same.
And a world full of people showing up at their best and kicking ass at life is the kind of world I want to live in.
See the original atomic essay on Twitter
What I Wish I Knew At The Beginning Of My Personal Growth Journey (A Roadmap For My Past Self)
If time travel was a thing, this is what I would tell past Nic:
1. Information alone does not create transformation
There is SO MUCH information about personal growth out there but none of it means anything if you just listen or read and then forget. Taking action on what you consume is the key to growth.
2. Slow progress is still progress
Some transformations happen quickly and others take awhile. Don't judge yourself for the pace of change, just let it unfold naturally.
3. Finding your own way is essential
Don't try to copy anyone else's personal growth journey. Learn the art of self-awareness and then use that as a guide to find what works for you.
4. It's ok to let go of people who don't support you
When you start to change and grow, there will be people in your life who try to discourage your growth. This isn't about you, it's about them. It's ok to let them go or implement boundaries to protect your own mental health.
5. Growing with friends is better than growing alone
If the people in your life aren't supportive of your new journey, find people online or in real life who are also pursuing growth and support each other.
See the original atomic essay on Twitter
Fighting Against Your Perceived Flaws Doesn't Make Them Go Away (Here's What To Do Instead)
As an Ambitious Procrastinator I feel uniquely qualified to talk about the hot topic of the week: procrastination.
First a little backstory...
Resentment and shame were my default for years because I felt like I couldn't get my shit together. The more I tried to push through or looked for ways to "fix" myself the worse I felt.
0/10 don't recommend.
The redemption arc...
Somewhere along the line I realized that fighting against what I perceived as a flaw wasn't getting me anywhere. I decided to get curious instead.
I discovered a few typical triggers:
trying to do too much or feeling overstimulated
feeling pressure to perform or have a particular outcome
not getting enough sleep
Aside from getting more sleep and not being a jerk to myself, I also found a few things that help me get the necessary things done.
My favorite strategies:
making space daily to just BE and not have to DO anything
not using due dates on tasks unless it's a hard deadline
finding an accountability partner (total game-changer)
co-working regularly (another form of accountability, but with built in time to actually do the work)
The bottom line is we're imperfect humans so we have flaws.
Instead of desperately trying to fix them all, accepting that they exist and working with them makes life a whole lot more enjoyable.
See the original atomic essay on Twitter
