Curators Selected 15 of My Self-Improvement Stories
When we try to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too
Paulo Coelho’s quote means that the intention of self-improvement has the side effect of improving everyone and everything around us. His novel Alchemist revolves around this idea.
The Alchemist is a story of a shepherd who goes on a quest for a treasure to actualize his personal legend. He faces many challenges and chooses to call his journey an adventure.
During his adventure, he learns to listen to his heart and the universal language of omens.
Similar to the shepherd’s adventure, we are all trying to carve a life for ourselves. But you cannot create the life of your dreams unless: you have control over your thoughts, you are calm, you are free of stress, you understand the purpose of your work, you are flexible, you are not afraid of the future, you can control the intensity of your life, and you understand that all great things began by taking small steps.
Here are the ten stories — selected by curators — that tell you how to do these things:
The Only Way Out if Self-Criticism Is Killing Your Work
When you start doing some work, a stream of thoughts starts simultaneously to tell you that your techniques are not good enough. After some time, you do not even have to criticize yourself; the inner critic runs in the background — like a state of mind — forever telling you that you do not have what it takes to be the chosen one, the liked one, or the preferred one.
7 Ways to Be a Hero Without Doing Anything You Don’t Want to Do
The unusual has been trending for centuries now. The public demand for heroes generates competition. To sell more comic books or movies, the creators have to make the hero sellable. They have to exaggerate natural human traits to an extreme to grab attention.
Lighten Up by Knowing How Life’s Balancing Act Makes Us Equal
Almost all the poor boys and girls dream to live like kings and queens. Some of them succeed. People like Steve Jobs, Lady Gaga, and Oprah not only achieved their dreams, but they have created an impact on the lives of millions of people. Was life fair to them?
Changing Your Mind Is Your Right
Your psychological health, career, aging process, and almost every aspect of your life can benefit from such a change. I have often faced criticism for changing my mind. I try to avoid stubbornness, and I try not to be rigid in my opinions.
You Can Think Without Words.
In today’s world, this inner chatter is exaggerated many times when social media platforms spray a constant stream of words into our heads. Videos, audios, and written words, all influence our brains. It can be safely surmised that a majority of the people have a lesser number of original thoughts than electronically communicated thoughts during a single day.
“You came so that you could learn about your dreams,” said the old woman. “And dreams are the language of God. When he speaks in our language, I can interpret what he has said. But if he speaks in the language of the soul, it is only you who can understand” ~ The Alchemist.
All Is Well: Learn What Makes This Mantra Powerful
Since I first read the mantra, ‘All is well’, years ago, in a book written by Louis L. Hay, I have often overlooked its importance more times than any other thing. It feels simplistic, too simple to be true or effective, I don’t want to believe that it can work.
Understand the Purpose of Doing Your Work
Many people live their lives without ever knowing what they want to do; they just do it. Others, like you and me, keep finding it. Purpose is similar to the concept of truth: it keeps changing its meaning from person to person, generation to generation.
Can Your Control the Intensity of Living Your Life?
There are levels of life that we are willing to accept. If you are breathing, eating, and sleeping, you are alive. But, on a deeper level, are you alive? The answer to this question would be completely subjective. It would depend on what you may be feeling at the moment.
Not Knowing Everything Is Vital for Knowing Your Own Self
Medical records are trustworthy because of the research in biology, microbiology, pathology, and other disciplines. Scientists are trying to reach a similar level of excellent work to help us in emotional, psychological, and artistic life — but most of it is in infancy at this time.
Why You Have to Start Small and Keep On Improving
You have to start small and take small steps towards success. When we talk about small beginnings, in 1995, according to Craig Stoltz, Jeff’s garage was his headquarters. When Craig visited Amazon for a story in The Washington Post, Jeff told him that he had been up late packing books with his wife.
One Simple Habit Let’s You Control Your Thoughts
When people don’t let go of anxious thoughts and turn them over in their minds, allowing them to seep into their body’s systems, they start experiencing the beginnings of insomnia, depression, and other mental health issues.
The Fears Can Weaken You but You Can Defeat Them
Would I like to know what happens in my future? Would it not be like fast-forwarding the video to see what happens next? Or would it not be like reading the last page of the novel when you can’t handle the suspense?
Difference between Self-Love and Narcissism
A narcissist is overconfident and ignores her weaknesses while exaggerating her assumed strengths. A narcissist craves the appreciation of others. If they don’t get the praise, they feel hollow.
Ask Yourself ‘What is Your Biggest Fear?’
Will Smith told a story about how he felt before skydiving — with his friends — in Dubai. He had to jump out of an airplane in the morning. “That night, you’re lying in your bed, and you are thinking. You’re terrified,” He said in the interview.
You don’t buy every book when you go to a book store. You read the book reviews for guidance. The curation is a review of your written piece — by Medium. What Medium wants and what you can do about it — an explanation of the requirements for successful curation.
