During those moments of introspection have you wondered how to make that journey from where you are to where you want to be? Do you often wish for that second chance? Take heart from the fact that you’re not the only one who feels this way. You can open up your horizons starting right now by embarking on a continuous process of personal development.

Although we might not want to believe it, fact is, nobody’s perfect. There’s always room for improvement, and if we’re totally honest with ourselves, we’ll find at least some areas that can be worked on. Begin by asking yourself the following questions:

§ What are my strengths?

§ Which areas need improvement?

§ How do I develop these skills?

While each of us has unique self improvement needs, the following guide does apply to most people on the path to personal development.

Think ahead: Focus your attention on long-term goals. This means thinking through the long-term consequences of your actions. This will also enable you to develop personal abilities to deal with those curveballs life with throw at you.

Open your mind: Your critics are your greatest teachers, and it’s up to you to learn from them. If you’re getting similar feedback from several people on a specific area of improvement, take an objective look. If you think they have a point, they’ve actually done you a favor. Figure out how you can make changes. You can also learn from other people’s mistakes – if your daughter is a habitual latecomer, are you sure she’s not following your example?

Think positive: And no, this isn’t motherhood and apple pie stuff. Don’t let frustration get you down. Instead, use dissatisfaction as an instrument of change. It’s amazing how if you say something to yourself often enough, you’ll get around to believing it!

Commit to life: Promise yourself that you’ll live a fuller life, starting right now. That means taking those half chances, and kissing regrets goodbye. Second thoughts are a big obstacle to personal development; rid your DNA of them!

Make time: Unassailable fact – we all have exactly the same number of hours in a day. So how is it that you can’t find time to do some of the things that really matter, like attending your son’s first baseball game or taking that family vacation? List out the top priorities in your life and make time for them! Incidentally, it’s the same with personal development – it won’t work until you give it adequate time.

Learn to say no, and yes: The key goal of personal development is to strengthen character. The only thing worse than being a doormat is being pig-headed. Stand your ground on issues that you believe in. At the same time, there’s no shame in admitting that you were wrong about something.

Say it: It’s amazing what heartfelt appreciation and gratitude can do for you, even when you’re at the giving end. Be generous and genuine with praise. You’re sure to reap amazing returns on this investment!

The first and most important step in your quest for personal development is to make that commitment. There are plenty of experts out there to help you along the way.