Personal Growth

Hello, coffee lovers and avid readers! Welcome to Olive’s Corner at Olive’s Café, where you get insight on thoughts of life.

Here’s my opinion on personal growth: although it’s not a replacement for therapy, I find personal growth extremely helpful.

I came across personal growth books when I was in between jobs, and my first two books that I read were The Secret by Rhonda Byrne and Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill. One book taught about the laws of attraction while the other book taught me that all the negative things that happen in our lives are from the Devil, therefore we can outwit him. Once I started to believe the things I’ve read, I saw changes in my life, and I thought if those books can help in my life, then let me read more books. Since I struggled with therapy and medication, I believed that books would work.

For a whole year and a half, I went through a conversion of religion, even participated in the 21-day fasting, but truthfully, none of these that I thought were considered personal growth prevented me from going dark. I didn’t realize until later that although io was good at the routine of reading personal growth books, and even attending church, nothing I did felt genuine, since nothing changed. In fact, things gradually got worse.

There are a lot of options for personal growth, and there can be specific depending on what needs to work and growth. There’s business motivation, mindfulness, intentional living, success, self-transformation, relationships, brain power, and inspiration. Within these opinions, I’ve read Principles by Ray Dalio, Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, Obstacle is the Way Ryan Holiday, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck and Everything is Fucked by Mark Manson, Relentless by Tim Grover, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, and Let Love Have the Last Word by Common, just to name a few. All these books have changed my mindset, but I felt like I didn’t do much execution with all the knowledge that I acquired.

After some time, I learned my lesson, and that is personal growth goes beyond reading the books. It requires demonstrating what I learned and making actual changes for myself. It f goes beyond hoping, and it has to be genuinely intentional. Therapy is still needed, but changes have to take place, and personal growth can guide us in the right decision

In my honest opinion, we all need to look at what needs change and what needs growth. When we’re specific with what needs work, we can take steps into improving long-term. For me I needed help with communication, confidence, loving myself, behavior, mindset, and ownership. However, all the work I’m putting in still takes time, and it’s part of the lifestyle that I’ve needed. I had to change from “I can do it,” to “I will do it because I must do it.” No more excuses, no more beating around the bush. Everyone goes through their own journey, but I believe that once everyone starts getting into personal growth, changes will start to show.

Not everyone is required to read personal growth books, but it is a good place to start before we start doing activities. It will become uncomfortable at first because they guide us to have conversation with ourselves and things will overcome, therefore causing us to face and overcome them. It’s difficult but it’s necessary. What I recommended is if anyone is if anyone is speaking to a therapist, talk to them and ask for advice. Then, research on books that talk about the issues. After that, work your way from there.

What’s your opinion on personal growth? How do you feel about it? If you’re currently working on your growth, what’s your goal and what are you improving on? If not, and you want to start working on, what areas would you want to start?

Thank you for tuning in on Olive’s Corner at Olive’s Café!