Self-Development

self-development on www.marianamcdougall.com

The journey of self-development is just that: a journey.

Improving who you are and continuously learning to become a better person is not a destination, it’s something we should work on throughout our lives.

Whether it’s examining how you act within your relationships, how you talk to yourself, or how you play the cards that life deals you, all of us can use a little guidance and push to become the best versions of ourselves.

Self-development is the act of consciously taking steps to improve who you are, on all levels of your being. Whether it’s by an examination of consciousness (and then acting on that examination), by being open to new perspectives, or by setting out on a new adventure to find new meanings, we all should take the time for personal growth.

This is the section of the blog where I write about becoming the best people we can become, through self-development, personal growth, and more.

Posts about self-development

Setting Goals That Actually Work—FREE Worksheet!

July 26, 2018August 2, 2018 Mariana

So… you’re a procrastinator. It’s OK, you can admit it.

Most of us had no issue calling ourselves out in school. When we were up all night finishing an assignment that was due the next day, we’d just say it: I procrastinated. Then we became adults, and realized adulting is hard. Missing deadlines now have bigger consequences than failing a class. Especially if you’re a freelance writer. Or a mom who’s also a freelance writer. If procrastination is getting you down, it’s time to make things right by setting some goals that actually work.

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Accountability in Practice: How I Stay Accountable with My Personal Goals

July 12, 2018July 12, 2018 Mariana

I’m not great with accountability. Let me rephrase that. I’m an accountable person when it comes to my work. But when it comes to personal goals, I often don’t do well with accountability strategies, such as checking in with an accountability buddy. But I think that’s just because I hadn’t found “my people” yet.

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Unleash Your Creative Self

January 24, 2018June 30, 2018 Mariana

You’re more creative than you think.

I’ve been neglecting this blog since I started building the MultiTalented Writers site. With 3 young homeschooled kids at home, managing a household, building a new site, trying to maintain an exercise routine, maintaining some semblance of a social life, building a site from the ground up, and creating a new YouTube channel, there really isn’t that much time left to work on this blog.

But since I love writing posts and I’d like to keep writing about my parenting, homeschooling, and general life experiences, I’ve returned for a few more posts 🙂 My hope is to post something at least weekly on this site, but we’ll see how it goes. I like to keep it real, and reality is, when you live the crazy life I live, not everything gets done. And I’ve learned to be OK with that.

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Never too late

May 26, 2017July 5, 2018 Mariana

“It’s too late to start something new.”

“I’m too old to start all over.”

“I’m too old for this.”

“It’s really not the right time for that.”

Be honest: how many times have you uttered one of the sentences above after thinking about a dream?

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New Year’s Resolutions to Make the World a Better Place

January 17, 2017July 5, 2018 Mariana

Did you make New Year’s Resolutions for 2017? How are they coming along?

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something after following a link on this post, I may receive a small commission. Rest assured that I only recommend products and services that I use and love, or that I want to use in the near future.

If you’re like most people, even if you’re doing awesome with your New Year’s Resolutions, you’ll fall off the wagon as soon as March (if not sooner). And it’s not surprising, really.

If you follow the blog, you know it’s no secret that I don’t like New Year’s Resolutions. Not just because they’re the most ineffective way to reach a goal, but also because they tend to be too near-sighted and belly-button focused. The majority of people who make New Year’s Resolutions are thinking only of themselves when they make them. Case in point: the top New Year’s Resolutions are “losing weight” and working on self-improvement.

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Start 2017 on the right foot

January 2, 2017July 5, 2018 Mariana

I’m committed to having my most organized, healthiest, most awesome year ever in 2017. I’m committed to setting SMART goals and making them happen this year. I’ve decided to quit making excuses for why I can’t do things, and remember that if I try my hardest, I can accomplish anything. I need to remember to take my own advice more often. I have followed my dreams and taken leaps of faith in the past, and it always ends well. It’s when I don’t take action that I get into a spiral of feeling sorry for myself, and I start to believe the word “can’t.”

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Your New Year’s Resolutions? They’re just not gonna happen.

December 18, 2016July 5, 2018 Mariana

I’m not fond of New Year’s Resolutions.

I never make New Year’s Resolutions, and with good reason. Every year-end, about 50% of the US population makes New Year’s Resolutions, hoping to accomplish everything from weight loss to debt repayment. Yet, only about 8% of resolution-makers actually fulfill their New Year’s resolutions.

The reasons for these failures are many, but one of the main problems with New Year’s Resolutions is the lack of planning involved in making them. When people do make a plan, it’s often not well designed. And when it is well-designed, there’s often a lack of commitment to making it happen.

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Live life on your terms

October 1, 2016July 5, 2018 Mariana

I have an amazing life and I know it. Even in my most dire financial times, I never wanted for food, shelter, or water. I am blessed beyond belief. Every time I feel like complaining, I remind myself of these three things: food, shelter, and clean water. And not just any food, shelter, and water, either.

I can afford to eat healthily and to indulge in treats. I live in a wonderful home with 3 flush toilets (yes, that is definitely a highlight), a comfortable bed, and even a bathtub. I also have functioning modern appliances that mean I don’t have to slave over a wash basin to do the piles of laundry that 5 people undeniably create. I have clean water that comes out of any tap inside my house. I can actually drink water from anywhere in my house without filtering it first (even if it does taste like chlorine sometimes, which is why we use a filter in the kitchen—oh yes, I can afford a filter! Another blessing).

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