What You Need To Give Up To “Glow Up”

We all seek to be the best versions of ourselves. There are things we need to give up to achieve long-lasting transformation.

There are things you need to give up to “glow up.” Change can happen in a moment. Long-lasting inner transformation, a “glow up,” occurs through a consistent, conscious change in behavior. Often this can only happen by giving up a particular way of being. Here are five fundamental ways of being you must give up to achieve a “glow up.”

Give up immediate gratification for long-term gains.

Studies have shown that people willing to give up immediate gratification to achieve a future goal are more likely to achieve success over the long term.

It is about giving up going to a party this weekend to study for your finals. The future rewards for doing well in your finals far outweigh the sacrifice of missing the party.

Give up security for expansion.

Security can take the form of financial safety or security from relationships. Growth comes from expanding beyond your comfort zone. This could be trading financial security with a nine-to-five job you are unhappy with to pursue your dream of building your own company. Or it could be moving away from friends and family to pursue a position in a different city.

Give up the pursuit of fleeting happiness for the search for meaning.

Happiness, however you choose the describe it, is elusive. And when you do achieve it, it is fleeting. Studies have shown that after winning the jackpot, most people’s level of happiness decreases over time — returning to where they were before winning the jackpot.

Pursue meaning, and happiness will ensue. But how do you pursue meaning? By looking for what moves you and sparks your passion. Find meaning in things that bring us joy. Look for it in the daily things like time spent with the family, helping a co-worker. Create experiences that bring meaning into your life.

Remember that meaning and fulfillment don’t come from outside but from within yourself. Essentially you hold the answer to what brings meaning to your life. Tap into it and pursue it relentlessly.

Research has shown that giving to others can make our lives feel more meaningful. Find meaning in something greater than yourself, which brings me to my next point.

Give up comfort for contribution.

Contributing to a cause greater than yourself brings true life satisfaction. Human beings are motivated by the desire for comfort: the big home, the two cars, the six-figure income. There is nothing wrong with this. But if this is what drives your ambitions, you will be sadly disappointed once you’ve achieved it.

Growing is about living a life of meaning and purpose. For a more profound meaning in life, think about giving back. How can you contribute to a cause greater than yourself with your skills and passions?

Give up the need to be right for the need to be effective.

Our ego is the greatest enemy to our growth. Giving up the need to be right is not about ignoring your convictions or the need to express your opinion. It means increasing your capacity to acknowledge other points of view.

You don’t have to agree with them. But it would help if you approached the table with an open mind. An emotionally intelligent person is willing to see the point of view of others no matter how strong their convictions are. This capacity should extend to all your relationships.

Emotional Intelligence — our ability to regulate and interpret other people’s emotions — helps us relate to others and is the barometer for growth. For tremendous success in all areas of your life, seek to develop your emotional intelligence.

Give up your need for approval for authenticity.

Our greatest need as human beings is the need for love and approval. Our greatest fear is the fear of rejection. Unfortunately, for many of us, we believe that if we showed up as who we truly are we would be rejected.

So, we go through life making decisions motivated by the need for approval from our friends and family, at the expense of our truth. Authenticity is necessary to our growth. The biggest thing you must give up to grow is to release the need for approval from everyone but yourself.

Give up more information for greater integration.

Information is constantly bombarding us. You can search the net for ideas on just about anything, including how to live a more meaningful life. What the net cannot do is act on your behalf on the information you’ve gathered.

You achieve long-lasting change when you start to integrate and embody what you’ve learned into your daily life. You can read all the latest steps till you’re blue in the face, but if it does not change behavior, you’re just wasting time. Transformation is a result of the conscious, consistent change in your behavior.

Bringing it all together.

Life stops the minute you stop growing. If you want a fulfilling life, you need to grow. And progress is made by giving up things that hinder our growth to make room for a new way of being.

But change can be scary. We want to cling to what is familiar. Once you can give up your need for certainty for the need for growth, you’re on your way to the most amazing “glow up.”

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