Wanting to improve yourself as a person? Congratulations! You have already taken the first step towards self-growth.

Here are 10 of my tried and tested life changing strategies that helped me immensely in my own personal growth. So read on to start on this lifelong journey with endless possibilities!

1. Start your day with positive thoughts. As you breathe in a new day, let go of yesterday’s grudges and gear up to sail through the next 24 hours. You may have lots to do but a positive outlook will make it that much easier.  

2. Divide and rule! Well don’t worry about the political or military context where this phrase is most often used. It’s actually a good thing to use the divide and rule strategy to get things done. Break down big responsibilities into smaller goals. For example, that big project you are working on or the room that you are trying to refurnish – split the task into daily goals and weekly goals. Look at things as if they were made up of small pieces and aim to put together a few pieces at a time.

3. Practice self-discipline. Chances are you already know the benefits of waking up early, regular exercising, a healthy diet and the like. Don’t excuse yourself by saying that you are waiting for the right time. That time is now. Sometimes we need to be strict with ourselves.

4. Seek advice. Sometimes, looking at things from someone else’s eyes will give you a different perspective and a fresh lease of thoughts. So, when in doubt, don’t hesitate to seek advice from a friend or family member.

5. Be open to criticism. Criticism hurts our ego; however coming from the right person, it can act as a much needed wake-up call. If your best friend tells you that your jokes go overboard sometimes, ask her more rather than just shrugging her off. Learn to differentiate between constructive guidance and destructive criticism.

6. Be a smart money manager. Money issues can really bog us down. Don’t let your finances run your life. Take charge and organize. Seek assistance from someone who you know is deft at handling money.

7. Complement generously. This is one rule I swear by. A confident and self-content individual finds it easy to compliment other people and even enjoys it. Complementing someone will not only make their day but will also lift your spirit. Flattery, on the other hand, will leave a bad taste and will come back to pinch you later.

8. Value your relationships. You may spend your entire life time trying to achieve material comforts, but if you don’t value your relationships, it’s all going to be in vain. For there is no fun in celebrating your success if you are alone, so learn to appreciate and put people first.

9. Be kind and watch what you say. In Asian cultures, it is said that words are like an arrow; once it leaves the bow, it’s never going to return. So whenever you open your mouth to speak, remember that your words can affect someone deeply, can make or break their day. Also, practice silence sometimes.

10. Last but not the least, be confident.  Never forget that you are special and there is no one else like you. Move through each day with confidence, rising above damaging experiences, because there is so much more to explore in life than to simply sulk.

Ok now it’s your turn to act on these tips. Make this part of your daily routine and you will soon see that the smaller changes you continue to make to your lifestyle will have a profound impact on your life.