Many people say that self-help is about finding the empowerment to go out and become a different person. To an extent, this psychological mindset is a true model; by becoming a better person you raise your self-esteem by preset goals that you plan and achieve. This behavior is reinforced by positive results and consequently sets up a person to succeed in more areas, given that they have enough talent and drive to succeed.

Persistence is a cornerstone in any good personal development program. Ambitious goals and careful planning are common personal development processes, but they are of little help if the first sign of trouble causes the whole program to be abandoned. Mistakes and failures are inevitable – personal development is about moving past them, not eliminating them.

Don’t allow procrastination to keep you from reaching your goals. It is all too easy to find reasons to put off taking the first step toward success. Also, the longer you wait, the harder it will be to get motivated. The truth is, if you start right now, you will quickly build momentum, allowing you to acheive your goals faster than you ever imagined possible.

Have reasons and stick to them. Adhering to ideology and belief systems blindly makes you look shallow to others. If you find a component of your knowledge base is essential to your sense of self, you should prepare to defend your position with confidence. It will also help you become more intimate with the beliefs that comprise your core self.

Develop a sense of urgency. When you are trying to improve any aspect of your life, procrastination is your worst enemy. The longer you wait to get started on a task, the less likely that task is going to get done. The first step is always the hardest; once you get started, you will surprise yourself with what you can accomplish.

Try to learn how to breathe right. You need to be able to concentrate on your breathing, especially if you are stressed or in pain. When things get intense, try to avoid taking quick breaths that make you dizzy and want to pass out. Instead try to breathe more slowly and deeply. You can feel much more in control of your anxiety and pain to prevent making things worse.

Taking responsibility for your decisions and being truthful with yourself is such an important part in your quest to becoming a better person. After all, if you can’t be honest with yourself, you will not be able to move forward successfully. You are in control of the person you were meant to be, so take control of your situation and you are one step closer to being that person.

Self-help is truly goal based. By breaking up the ultimate goal into little portions or pieces, people are able to achieve minor goals in their life and work up to the overall change. Turning into a self-made millionaire isn’t an overnight process, but the key to starting is to start. Like the pyramids, every great work takes effort, and in this case, change is best done one brick at a time.