Your 7 days program to self-improvement

I think lost count how many times I've read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and personally I do not), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless people, leaving the fairytale life of wealth and glamor. I guess we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.

There are many ways to lose the sense of self-esteem despite how trivial it can be. However, whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our sense of self.
So what it takes to be a cut above the rest? Here are some things you may think and improve on that should be enough for a week.

1. Know your purpose

Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping to find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.

This may seem difficult at first, when you look to be in a tight or even dead. However, there's always that little loophole to turn things around, and you can cause a change yourself.

2. Know your numbers

What do you value? List your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. When setting your goals for 2005 - check your goals against your values. If the goal does not align with any of their top five values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

The number should not discourage us but should motivate you to do more than you ever can dream.

3. Know your needs

Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be recognized, to be right, be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them just stress or depression, even for the case. List your top four needs and have met before it is too late!

4. Know your passions

Do you know who you are, and what they really enjoy life? Obstacles such as doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only stop, but will not derail your chance to become the person you should be. Express yourself and honor the people who have inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.

5. Live from the inside out

Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most of us a city slickers it's hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. In my case, often just sit in a dimly lit room, and play some classical music. No sound, yes, but the music is soothing the savage beast.

6. Honor your strengths

What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your confidence when you can share what you know to others.

7. Serving others

When you live authentically, you may develop a sense of being interconnected. When you are true to who you are, your life's purpose and giving of their talent to the world around you, give you service again in what came to share with others-your spirit - your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you've done for them.

The improvement is, in fact, a type of work worthwhile. There should always be within the confines of an office building, or perhaps in the four corners of your room. The difference lies within ourselves and how we want to change for the better.