How to Regain Direction on Your Self Improvement Path
Not too long ago, I sat down with someone who was feeling stuck. She had big dreams and a clear picture of the life she wanted—but couldn’t seem to take action. Her question for me was simple: How do I stop procrastinating and move forward?
It’s a common struggle. Whether you’re growing a business, navigating family life, or working on personal development, there are moments when we know what we want but don’t move toward it. We stall. We delay. We stay in our comfort zones.
That’s where self-improvement really begins: with awareness and a decision.
Self-Improvement Starts with a Clear Decision
If you’re craving change, the first step isn’t hustle—it’s clarity. It starts with identifying whether you’re truly living in alignment with your values.
The difference between real values and aspirational values is important. Real values show up in your actions—how you spend your time and money. Aspirational values are what you want to prioritize but haven’t made room for yet. Closing that gap can help you create a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling.
Understanding Real Values vs. Aspirational Values
Let’s say you believe personal development matters to you. Maybe you talk about it often or feel motivated by the idea of growing and improving. But when you look at your schedule or spending habits, you’re not actually putting time or money toward it.
That doesn’t mean you don’t care—it just means it might still be an aspirational value rather than something you’re actively living out right now. And that’s totally okay.
Noticing this gap isn’t a sign that you’ve failed—it’s a sign that you’re becoming more aware. It simply means your current habits haven’t yet caught up with your deeper intentions.
Once you recognize where there’s a disconnect, you can start making small, intentional changes that reflect who you want to be and the kind of life you’re working toward.
How to Identify Your True Priorities Through Time and Money
If you want to better understand your real values, start by looking at two areas of your life: your calendar and your bank statement. These often reveal what you’re truly prioritizing—not just what you say matters to you, but what your daily choices reflect. And if you’re working toward self improvement, paying attention to how you spend your time and money is a great place to begin.
Time
Take a look at your schedule. What does it show about your current priorities? Are there blocks of time dedicated to things like rest, learning, or self-care? Or are your days packed with tasks that leave you feeling overwhelmed or depleted? When there’s no space for the things that support your personal growth, it becomes harder to make progress. Real change starts by noticing how your time is being spent.
Money
Now look at where your money is going. Are you spending in ways that support your long-term goals, like investing in personal development, wellness, or learning? Or is most of it going toward convenience, quick fixes, or habits that don’t align with who you want to become? When it comes to self-improvement, how you manage your money often reveals whether your actions are lining up with your intentions.
Screen Time
You can also take a moment to check your phone’s screen time report. Most phones now track how many hours you spend on different apps each week. Are you using that time to connect, grow, or recharge, or just passing time without thinking much about it? Your digital habits, just like your schedule and spending, can reflect where you’re currently placing your focus.
None of this is about judgment. It’s simply about paying attention. When you’re on a self-improvement journey, becoming more aware of how you use your time, money, and attention can be the first meaningful step toward change.
The Growth Mindset Shift: Awareness Leads to Change
This kind of reflection isn’t about judgment. It’s about building a growth mindset—one where you look at your current patterns and ask, “What do I want to change, and how do I start?”
Maybe your time and money don’t match what you say matters to you. That’s not a failure. That’s insight. That’s your opportunity to shift.
Rachel and I recently talked about how this showed up in our own lives. We drove through Moab once and didn’t stop, even though we’d always said we wanted to explore it. That moment helped us realize: if we truly value experiences and making memories, we have to stop just talking about it—and plan for it. The next time we passed through, we made it a point to stop.
What It Takes to Make a Real Life Transformation
Once you’re aware of the disconnect between your real and aspirational values, the next step is the most important one: you have to decide.
That decision is where transformation begins. It’s when you say, “I’m done operating this way. I’m ready to show up differently.”
It’s not always comfortable. Rachel’s about to attend her first personal development course, and she’s nervous. But she’s leaning into the discomfort because she knows growth happens outside the comfort zone.
How to Align Your Actions with Your Values
Want to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be? Start with small, clear shifts:
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Block time on your calendar for things that matter most.
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Reduce distractions that don’t align with who you’re becoming.
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Say yes to opportunities that challenge and stretch you.
These small decisions create powerful momentum. They help you live your values, not just talk about them.
Your Next Step Toward Self-Improvement and Growth
If you’re feeling stuck, take a step back. Look at your life through the lens of time, money, and energy. What are your patterns telling you? What’s missing?
Then make the decision to change—even if it’s one small step today.
That’s how transformation begins. That’s how a growth mindset is built. And that’s how you start showing up as the person you truly want to be.
Want more insight? Catch the full conversation on Episode 80 of the Babies and Business podcast. We’ve got more tools, stories, and encouragement to help you grow in the direct
ion that matters most.
