I have plans – big plans. I have plans for business growth and plans for personal growth. I can measure the physical plane changes. How do I measure and track the subtle personal growth changes I hope to make?
Create a baseline
As with any measurement, you have to write down the starting point. Create a document, or start a blank hand-written journal. Begin by putting down a date and recording how you are doing. Examine all the planes: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. You can add work and relationships if you like Where are you now? Where would you like to be? What do you need to change? Make certain you record how you feel about each of those areas. Feelings are powerful guides.
Set up a system
I have a folder on my computer “Cara’s Progress.” I keep documents there that help me track my changes over the year. It includes my Acknowledgement List and my Accomplishment List.
Accomplishments
It’s important to write down what you feel are your accomplishments. It may be losing two pounds or running a marathon. Whatever goal you set and accomplish needs to be acknowledged. I had a rather elaborate system, but I’m now into simplicity so I write down the highlights on a monthly basis. It is useful and encouraging to come to the end of the year and look back to see your progress.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements let you know how others see you. They show the ways you are in service. Acknowledgements let you know where you are needed. Pay attention to them. Have a separate sheet in your Progress folder and every time you receive a compliment or an acknowledgement, write it down along with the date and the name of the person who said it. Acknowledgments are one of the strongest ways to track your progress. It shows how you are making a difference.
Unexpected Gifts
Tracking your unexpected gifts will warm your heart. They are subtle so you have to look closely for them. I had a deep philosophical discussion in the laundry room the other day that was a huge unexpected and valuable gift. Signs and signals to help you along your journey are everywhere. Look for them and record them. Writing down your unexpected gifts will help you see a pattern and become more aware of their presence.
Choose qualities to encourage
I’ve been working on allowing life and circumstances to unfold and I’m getting better. I’m becoming more mindful in my responses and my actions. Now I want to encourage simplicity. It particularly applies to my writing – I often say too much. I want to learn to make one point and make it clearly. I do follow a practice in my home environment of bring one thing in, take two out. I eat simple, whole foods. I exercise on steps and sidewalks, and hallways. What quality would you like to develop in your life? Write down a few steps you can take to embrace that quality more fully.
Check in
You can check in weekly, monthly or quarterly. You can check in at the Solstice and Equinox, you can check in on your birthday – whatever period words for you. When you do check in, record how you’ve changed in the areas of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual and identify some steps that will help you continue to change on the next part of your journey.
Personal growth is subtle and it is constant. The more aware you become of how you are changing, the more active you can become in the choices you make. Self-awareness is the cornerstone of positive change.
