Areas to work on to improve oneself
Have had a bit of free time lately. Outside of career I have been attempting a broader effort to make myself a more well rounded person. I realized I was probably hyper fixating at the expense of many other areas in my life. These are just areas I've identified, I am not a master in any of these lol.
First the obvious stuff:
- Physical fitness (flexibility, cardio, strength). Progressively lifting heavier or more reps, pushing harder on the cardio front, etc; good diet is part of this as well for me; improve skin, enough protein is essential for muscle, etc.
- Fashion (in office and outside work); ability to dress for any occasion, having a haircut that suits you that you maintain
- Healthy skin / being well groomed, etc.
- Go to the doctor; supplement on stuff that you're lacking in; has made a surprising difference in how I feel which makes sense
Broader areas, just in random order:
- Creativity / hobby (some outlet; sport, music, cooking, anything)
- Being a good host; be generous. If you have people over have enough food and drinks without thinking twice. Pay the bill sometimes, etc.
- Be sharp. Pick up on subtle social cues. Keep up to date with world news. Watch some movies, read some books, have things to talk about that teach you more about the world.
- Travel a bit; don't just go to only party and try to get laid; see how people live and operate day to day and learn from them
- Low anxiety; anxiety is obvious and you can smell it on people. Hard when you work a tough job though. More sleep can help with this and some supplements
- Having some balls; like if you don't like what you're doing / where you are, having the ability to pull yourself up and pivot in another direction if you want. Easy when younger
- Communication skills (verbal and written; not just at work, in your personal life too)
- Low ego / high confidence; for me largely comes from experience + learning to prioritize your own values over what others think. Lol I hear from friends that trying shrooms might help with this.
- Good storytelling ability + public speaking
- Strong virtues / pillars; integrity, not over indulging in any vice, calmness; have been trying to read more stoic philosophy (Marcus Auerlius), Ben Franklin's 13 virtues, etc.
- Strong and healthy relationship with family / friends
- Not being patronizing + have a willingness to help others
- General happiness / ability to take joy in small events; I need to work on this, I can be very serious and lost in thought, I realize finding joy in small beautiful moments in life is a big strength some folks have
- Ability to flirt / be an interesting person and work towards finding a partner
- Prob not being overly promiscuous; honestly I think this is an area especially in America that is ignored but having a lot of partners isn't a desirable trait; having ability to have some deeper connection should be valuable.
- Don't pretend to know stuff you don't. Don't pretend to be richer than you are. Be who you are proudly and work on improving yourself.
- Don't drink too much and make a fool of yourself in broader society. Avoid doing stuff when you drink that you regret after by just limiting the amount you consume.
- Working on your soul - having some connection to a greater force; religious or otherwise
Other Areas I have no experience with
- Volunteering / community service; tbh have never tried but I can see why it could be fulfilling to do stuff with no expectation of a return
- Ability to handle and contemplate loss or negative news gracefully
I've been journaling as well, nothing too serious I just have a notebook and take 30 mins some weekends to write down where I am at and what I have been doing / need to be doing to figure out my direction and address anything that seems worth addressing.
I have a desire to 'level up' and working on the above areas one at a time seems to be a good path to work towards that goal. Any other areas that you guys can think of that one can really invest in to just become a better person?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are additional areas and insights to consider for self-improvement and becoming a well-rounded individual:
1. Time Management and Productivity
2. Emotional Mastery
3. Networking and Relationships
4. Soft Skills and Communication
5. Self-Reflection and Goal Setting
6. Cultural and Intellectual Growth
7. Virtues and Values
8. Health and Fitness
9. Community and Giving Back
10. Resilience and Adaptability
11. Happiness and Joy
12. Romantic and Social Skills
13. Spiritual and Soulful Growth
14. Leadership and Influence
By focusing on these areas, you can continue to "level up" and become a more well-rounded, fulfilled individual. Keep building on your current efforts, and remember that self-improvement is a lifelong journey!
Sources: Selfish Ask for Help in Situation, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/then-and-now-compbanker?customgpt=1, Developing the "It Factor" as You Progress in Career - What Puts High Performers on Another Level?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/finding-meaning-in-life?customgpt=1, Selfish Ask for Help in Situation
All good points, I like to read a few pages of a couple of different books per day too.
Also, I think routine helps above all. If you want to look better, have a gym schedule and stick to it, floss your teeth at the same time every day, buy new clothes on the same day each year/quarter etc.
What have you been reading that you can recommend? I ready some Bourdain recently and was very eye opening in a way different than anything I've read before. I enjoyed philosophy for some time but grew a bit bored
anything you can get your hands on and make sure to mix it up
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