Welcome back to my story. If you missed Part 1 and Part 2 of this article, check them out here.
How a Law of Attraction Planner Led to my Personal Development Journey, Part 1
How a Law of Attraction Planner Led to my Personal Development Journey, Part 2
In my previous two articles, I talked about how buying a pretty planner catapulted me into a personal development journey I never thought possible. The planner led me to learn about The Law of Attraction, Manifestation, Wicca, the power of self-care, and more. I went from a girl with low self-esteem to someone who takes charge and makes BIG, BIG goals.
None of these changes happened at the beginning… or all at once… and sometimes I had setbacks. I still have set backs. However, if I started to feel those old feelings again, I would try to understand why. Even now, if I start to feel that old feeling of low self-esteem, I try to figure out what triggered it. Did I meet someone I haven’t talked to since my journey started? Did I let someone make a decision for me that I don’t feel comfortable with? Reflection is truly empowering. Besides , it’s still okay to cry sometimes when you feel overwhelmed. It doesn’t mean you haven’t made progress.
How Did My Personal Development Journey Change Me?
I Gained Self-Esteem
I convinced myself when I was young that I wasn’t “likable”. I had a hard time trusting people, so if I tried to talk to someone and they even seemed remotely aloof, I wouldn’t try again. Who knows? Maybe they had a thousand things on their mind and were completely distracted. Maybe someone cut them off in traffic? Those thoughts never crossed my mind. I was convinced something was wrong with me. When I started my personal development journey, I kept reading positive affirmations, making and achieving goals, and I started believing in myself. I started to tell myself that I was a really good person, and that people would be lucky to have me as a friend. I was just as good as anyone else. I wasn’t being conceited… I was owning my value!
I Stood Up for Myself
I also started defending myself… naturally, in a civilized way. For a long time, I felt like I had no voice. I let people take advantage of me because I couldn’t speak up. At times, it was debilitating. When I found my value, I found my voice. I grew more confident and became more productive than I ever thought possible. If I had strong feelings about something, I attempted to fix it so that everyone would benefit. I didn’t simply give in to keep the peace.
I Cut Out Toxicity
There are some things in your life you can’t remove from your life… but there are some things you can. If those things are not adding value to your life… chuck ‘em! I had a few friends and family members that seemed to always make me feel bad. As I started working on self-improvement, I realized how ridiculous it was to keep them in my life. I am SO much happier now that I don’t have to deal with them. One of the best lessons I learned in life was that other people’s bad behavior is due to their issues, not mine.
I Learned to Set Boundaries
For the longest time, I was a people-pleaser. I said yes when I wanted to say no, let people take advantage of my kindness, and felt guilty for putting myself first. But personal development taught me that setting boundaries isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. When I started honoring my needs and saying no without over-explaining, I felt a massive shift. I realized that the right people would respect my boundaries, and the wrong ones would reveal themselves quickly. And you know what? That was okay.
I Stopped Seeking Validation
I used to rely on external validation for everything—my worth, my choices, my success. I needed someone else to tell me I was doing a good job or that I was enough. But through my journey, I realized that no one else gets to define me. I started trusting my own instincts, making decisions based on what felt right for me, and letting go of the need for approval. That was when I truly felt free.
I Started Taking Action
Before my personal development journey, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted but never actually doing anything about it. I had dreams, but they stayed dreams. I avoided things that were scary. Once I changed my mind set to embracing scary things, I started setting real goals, making plans, and—most importantly—following through. I stopped waiting for the “right time” because I realized the right time was whenever I decided to start.
I Became More Grateful
The biggest shift in my journey was learning to appreciate where I was while working toward where I wanted to be. Gratitude changed everything. Instead of focusing on what I lacked, I started acknowledging what I already had. I celebrated small wins, appreciated the lessons in challenges, and found joy in the everyday moments. The more I practiced gratitude, the more positive things seemed to come my way.
Personal Growth Is a Lifelong Journey
I won’t pretend that I have everything figured out. I still have tough days. I still get triggered by old wounds. But the difference now is that I don’t let those moments define me. I reflect, adjust, and keep moving forward. Growth isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being better than yesterday.
So, if you’re on your own personal development journey, keep going. Be patient with yourself. Celebrate your progress. And most importantly, remember that you are capable of so much more than you ever imagined.
What lessons have you learned in your own personal growth journey?