Putting your fears aside and admitting that you want to improve yourself is a huge step. Here’s some self-help tips for you to try.

Before you can respect others or be judged worthy of respect, you must first respect yourself. If you take care of your own health and happiness, you can then overflow into the lives of your loved-ones and colleagues to lift them up as well. Putting others ahead of yourself only happens once you have found your own identity.

The most critical way to improve your mental outlook and sense of purpose is to believe in something larger than yourself. Search for something (a cause, a purpose, a religion, etc.) that moves you. You must believe in this intrinsic merits of this cause in themselves; if you pursue it simply for your own benefit, you will be disappointed. Find something you believe in and immerse yourself in it.

A great self help tip is to write down everything you like about yourself. Sometimes depressed people develop such a powerful, negative view of themselves because they can only see what they don’t like. Writing down a list of what you like about yourself can help you see yourself in a different, more positive light.

Keep all of your household notes in one notebook. Arrange them chronologically. Write down your shopping lists right under your conversation with the utility company. Date everything and that way you will be able to easily locate your notes just by thinking about the approximate date you made them.

Regular exercise is necessary to your personal development. Just simple things, such as exercise, getting enough rest and a proper diet, will all keep your energy level up and make you feel good enough to be successful in your personal development journey. Although it seems so simple, this can be a struggle for some people.

Switch up your reading selections. If you generally stick to romance novels, autobiographies, or lighthearted novellas, pick up a few books from different genres. You may opt for a cooking guide, essay collection, how-to, or perhaps a book that takes place in a different era or culture. You will be surprised by how addictive knowledge can be, and your self-esteem will climb.

Prepare yourself for the inevitable day when someone chooses to bully you or try to put you down. There is a good chance that you certainly do not deserve this kind of treatment, but it happens to everyone. Think about how you could respond to their jabs in a rational, polite, and reasonable way that will avoid conflict but will let that person know that he or she is out of line. This will help you to rise above the hurt that always accompanies this type of negative interaction.

Rather than becoming resentful and angry because others do not cave in to your every desire, learn to accept compromise. Remember, chances are good that the person on the other end of the argument feels as passionately about his or her stance as you do about your own. Look for solutions that will satisfy the both of you.

Once you have tried these suggestions, log any mental or emotional changes. Take it easy on yourself.