How to Become the Person You’ve Always Dreamed of Being

Everyone envisions becoming the best version of themselves. You might dream of becoming a professional athlete, a globally acclaimed artist, or simply the best parent you can be. Maximizing your potential may seem like an enormous task, but it becomes possible once you let go of the unhelpful traits that are holding you back. Reevaluate your inner qualities to start moving toward the person you aim to become.

Recognize that you are already the person you wish to be. The secret to achieving everything you desire lies in the understanding that you already embody the person you want to become. You are already the best version of yourself. You just need to learn how to bring that person out. Everything you long for is within you, and all the resources you need to manifest it are already available.

• What you seek is not outside of you. If qualities like selfishness, confidence, or abundance rely on external circumstances, you’ll live in constant fear of losing them. True inner strength comes from knowing that the source of everything you desire lies within you.

Overcoming Life's Obstacles. There is a saying, "The only thing that can hold you back is yourself." This is true. However, you must reassess every trait or habit you possess that does not reflect the person you want to become. You can even talk to your loved ones and ask them if they notice any traits in you that might be holding you back. Two common traits that could hinder you are:

• Self-doubt. This trait leaves you stuck, never changing, and never reaching your full potential. If you are struggling with fear of failure or insecurity, you must fight against them. One great way to overcome self-doubt is by seeking proof of your successes. Recognize all the amazing achievements you’ve already made. After that, meet with a few close friends and ask them to share what they admire about you.
• Procrastination. This unpleasant trait often leads to self-talk. You might convince yourself that you work better under pressure or that a task won’t take much time, so there’s no need to do it immediately. Procrastinating for an hour turns into a few days, and before you know it, you’re up all night finishing things. Overcome procrastination by identifying the reasons behind it. Then, change your perspective on big tasks. Instead of trying to juggle multiple things at once, tell yourself that if you complete one small part, you can take a break. It also helps to find a quiet place to work without distractions.
• If you are struggling with buried memories, fears, depression, or substance abuse, you might not be able to resolve it on your own. See a mental health professional who can guide you through the healing process to achieve the health and future you desire.

Finding Your Truth. Everyone is born to do something. You have a unique goal to fulfill in this world, and you must discover it. As Pablo Picasso once declared, "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." Self-reflection brings you closer to your truth, and soon, you will become the person you wish to be. Ask yourself these questions:

1. What do you do when you wake up each morning? What makes you feel like you are truly alive?
2. What class did you enjoy the most when you were at school? What topics did you love learning about?
3. Have you ever organized a task that made you feel fulfilled?
4. What activity do you engage in where you lose track of time because you enjoy it so much?
5. What do people often say you’re good at?
6. What idea excites you the most?
7. What is one thing you can’t live without in this life?

Letting Go of Thoughts That Conflict with Your Truth. Whenever you think a negative, critical, fearful, or self-destructive thought, it means you are straying from your truth. Every time you tell yourself you can’t do something or that something is wrong, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy—you can’t achieve your goals this way. Your truth is that you have the ability to become whoever you want to be. All you have to do is believe in it, and you can succeed.

• To stop useless thoughts, you first need to identify them, then challenge them. If you catch yourself saying, "I can’t do this," when trying something new, ask for evidence to prove you can’t. Many people have negative conversations with themselves that do them no good. Try to recognize these thoughts and replace them with positive affirmations like, "I’m afraid to try this, but I won’t know if I can succeed unless I give it a try."
• Sometimes, trusting yourself can be difficult, especially when you tend to think negatively about yourself. By learning to challenge negative self-talk, you’ve already started to visualize achieving your goals. Visualization can be a powerful motivator and help you feel confident in your abilities.
• To practice visualization, find a quiet room and sit comfortably. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and picture yourself achieving your goal. Try this with smaller goals, like losing 10 pounds or finishing the semester with a 4.0 GPA. Imagine being at your destination, but also consider and visualize each small step you will need to take to get there (such as eating healthy and exercising or studying daily and getting tutoring).

Listen to the answers within you. Too many of us ignore the gentle call of our inner intuition, the loving voice that cares for us. It reminds us to relax and trust. You see, there's often a louder voice buzzing through our minds, urging us to act. It stops us from trusting ourselves and instead tempts us into the shallow, materialistic world for everything we seek.

• Learn to distinguish between the harsh, critical voice that pushes you and the soft, soothing, loving voice that supports you. Then, make a conscious choice to listen to the voice that nurtures you.

Define what you don't want. You can't reach your full potential without understanding what it is. Often in life, our goals change, and at times we may feel lost, unsure of what we’re striving for. However, knowing what you don't want guides you towards the right direction and allows you to set clear boundaries.

Practice positive thinking. Studies show that optimistic people tend to live longer and enjoy better physical and mental health than those who are pessimistic. Adopting a positive outlook means smiling often, avoiding unhealthy comparisons with others, and finding the silver lining in difficult situations.

• A research-backed method to become more optimistic is to practice visualizing the best future for yourself. In this exercise, you'll write expressively about your ideal future for 20 minutes. 'Think about your life ahead. Imagine everything turning out as well as possible. You've worked hard and achieved all your goals. Visualize yourself living your dreams. Now, write what you have imagined.' Complete this exercise for three consecutive days.

Embrace risks. Are you still afraid to step out because of the fear of failure? Learn to be courageous and seize the opportunities that come your way. Successful people don't always choose the safe route. Learn to read situations and people to identify which opportunities are worth your time, then take action to build your strategy for success.

• Risk-takers constantly experiment with different methods to improve and find the most effective way to achieve results. Never stop experimenting.
• Expect success, but be willing to accept failure. You should always visualize yourself achieving your goals, but failure is unavoidable. Overcome mistakes lightly and acknowledge them as lessons that refine your skills, helping you return stronger than before.
• Living constantly in your comfort zone may lead to boredom and constraints. Step outside it by actively engaging in a project that goes beyond your daily routine. Volunteer, and when you do, work with people you’ve had biases about (such as those struggling with addiction or homelessness). Another way to break your routine is by ceasing to act like you're unimportant at work. Step into leadership when you’re given more responsibility and others depend on you.

Learn to say "no" sometimes. Risk-takers are often known for saying 'yes' more than 'no.' This tendency builds from not allowing fear or doubt to prevent them from taking great opportunities to grow. However, as you strive to unlock your full potential, you need to learn to assert your opinions and say 'no' when needed. Respect yourself and elevate your core values by refusing activities that don’t align with your purpose.

• Of course, there will be times when you're compelled to say 'yes' to preserve relationships. In these situations, agreeing to do something may bring value if the person has a positive influence on your life.
• If you’re confident that saying 'no' is the right choice, do so without needing to justify or apologize.

Surround yourself with positive individuals. The people you spend most of your time with reflect who you are. There's an old saying, 'birds of a feather flock together.' Take a moment to assess whether those you spend daily or weekly time with truly represent who you want to be. These individuals should possess traits and qualities you admire—qualities that will ultimately influence you. Resist the temptation to be around those who may seem entertaining or interesting in the moment but hinder your growth potential.

• As Hans F. Hansen once said, 'People either inspire you or drain you. Choose your friends wisely.' Implement this by evaluating those closest to you. Think about how you feel when you're around them. Do they uplift and encourage you? Do they help foster good and positive habits?
• If those around you are draining your energy or holding you back, maintaining their presence in your life could cost you the chance to realize your true potential. Consider whether you need to distance yourself from individuals who don't align with the life you're aiming to create.

Focus on your strengths. Discover your unique abilities and talents, and make sure to leverage them every day. In doing so, you'll refine these skills and become even better at them. By developing your strengths, you demonstrate your best self to the world. Moreover, you'll experience greater confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

• This doesn't mean that identifying weaknesses isn't important—it is necessary to recognize areas where improvement is needed. However, focusing on your strengths allows you to fulfill your dreams. Think about it: there's a reason you were given these gifts. Make use of them!

Be kind to yourself. As you embark on your journey of self-empowerment, it's crucial to remember to be gentle with yourself. Motivating yourself to progress is a great thing, but everyone needs rest and self-care in order to return to their tasks at full capacity. When feeling stressed or overwhelmed, turn to self-care techniques that calm your mind and help release negative energy, preventing it from impacting your work and well-being.

• Self-care includes any activity that boosts your emotional, physical, or mental well-being. These activities vary for each individual—whether it's taking a bath, journaling, exercising, meditating, praying, or anything else that helps you unwind.
• Experiment with a few activities to determine what works best for you and incorporate them into your routine during stressful times. A regular daily or weekly self-care practice is a great way to prevent stress from building up.

Build self-trust and relax. Foster a healthy relationship with yourself. At times, in an effort to keep up with the pace of life, you may neglect your inner self. Regularly check in with yourself and assess where you're at. Do you need anything? Do you need a break? Take time for yourself and regularly reassess your goals and whether you're on a path that makes you happy. We are all progressing, so don’t worry if plans need to change or be adjusted. Be a success for yourself!

• Be yourself.
• Always remember, you are extraordinary.