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SpeakerGrowing in any capacity can seem like an invisible process.
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SpeakerWhen growing up, have you ever measured yourself to find that you are much taller than you were before?
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SpeakerMuch like your physical growth, changes can happen emotionally as well.
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SpeakerThese differences can be hard to spot and you may not realize the small ways that you've progressed.
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SpeakerTo help you unearth some of these small but big signs, in this video, we'll be looking at personal growth indicators.
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SpeakerSo what is personal growth?
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SpeakerGrowth is subjective and looks different for everyone.
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SpeakerOne specific theory for personal growth and its objective is self-actualization.
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SpeakerGerman neurologist Kurt Goldstein developed the theory but it was popularized by Abraham Maslow.
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SpeakerBoth talk about the idea that self-actualization refers to the realization of one's potential,
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Speakerwhich is a process of self-fulfillment, peak experiences and life appreciation.
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SpeakerMaslow puts these into a pyramid-shaped diagram detailing each step to achieving this.
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SpeakerWhile we will be looking at some aspects of this theory in this video, we'll also be gathering expert opinions on personal growth as a whole.
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SpeakerYou're looking ahead.
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SpeakerLife is unpredictable, at times messy, and it can be hard to think further ahead than dinner time when you're in a situation that's unstable and needs your constant attention.
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SpeakerWith an endless list of to-dos and loose ends, you may feel lost.
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SpeakerHowever, finding yourself feeling that the future is not full of worries and dreads can be a sign of personal growth;
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Speakerthat you're now in a place where you're comfortable, stable, and ready to take on new challenges.
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SpeakerPsychiatrist Dr. Grant Brenner describes this as having good self-governance:
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Speakerbeing balanced in your ability to take care of your needs while also being able to appreciate the world around you.
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SpeakerYou're able to live your life without being overwhelmed.
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SpeakerYou find yourself excited when you wake up for what the day will bring and have control over your situation so that everything will not crumble around you.
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SpeakerMaybe you're not quite at this point yet and that's ok.
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SpeakerEven the little things like looking forward to a nice fluffy donut or a dinner date with a friend are steps in the right direction.
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SpeakerYou're accepting.
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SpeakerWhile you may be excited about the future and looking forward to what's to come, you also may find yourself living in the present.
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SpeakerThe future is great and all, but things are good right now and you're going to enjoy it while it's here.
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SpeakerYou also can acknowledge your past and see how the parts of your history fit together today.
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SpeakerThis doesn't mean that you haven't struggled or minimized the bad, but you can now accept what has happened.
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SpeakerFurthermore, self-acceptance is one of the points in Maslow's pyramid of self-actualization.
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SpeakerMindbodygreen explains this point as the ability to accept your quirks and desires without needing to apologize for them.
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SpeakerYou're more emotionally intelligent.
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SpeakerHow would you describe your ability to handle your emotions? Are you able to process them better than before?
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SpeakerDo you have a better handle on strong feelings like anger and can hold yourself back from lashing out?
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SpeakerThese are signs of higher emotional intelligence or EQ.
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SpeakerLuckily, EQ is highly malleable, so even if you get overwhelmed easily, there are strategies to build upon these skills through mindfulness and introspection.
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SpeakerCorporate psychologist Dr. Patricia Thompson discusses how a high EQ is associated with emotional regulation, empathy, and awareness of yourself and others.
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SpeakerBeing skilled in this area means that you're better able to manage your relationships and yourself.
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SpeakerYou know you're still growing.
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SpeakerPersonal growth is a continuous process and there is no finish line.
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SpeakerYou can grow in a multitude of ways, some faster than others.
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SpeakerHowever, one of the biggest factors to future progress is having a growth mindset.
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SpeakerThis is believing that you're able to improve yourself and your abilities no matter where you're at.
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SpeakerA fixed mindset, on the other hand, is the opposite. You believe that you can only improve so much, if at all.
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SpeakerPsychology Today explains how some studies have shown that having this mindset results in positive effects on students' GPAs.
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SpeakerBy understanding that you can improve yourself, you're keeping yourself open to learning new things versus closing yourself off forever.
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SpeakerSelf-growth is an individual process and you may not realize all the ways you've progressed until you look back.
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SpeakerAll progress is progress, so even acknowledging that something has improved slightly is a step in the right direction.
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SpeakerOf course, personal growth is a journey and there are steps you can take to improve it further.
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SpeakerThis can be from taking time to introspect, talking with a therapist, or coming up with a plan to improve different areas of your life.
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SpeakerThere are many ways to do this that are unique to you. Ask yourself, what can you do today to get started?
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SpeakerThank you for watching this video. If you enjoyed it, please give it a like and share it with a friend.
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SpeakerLet us know your thoughts in the comment section and remember to subscribe to Psych2Go to keep up with our uploads.
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SpeakerTake care.