Ever feel like you’re moving forward, yet somehow still standing in place? You’re hitting your fitness goals, managing your career, and checking off tasks—but why does it still feel like something’s missing? We make time to go to the gym to get fit. We follow diets to lose weight. We invest in learning to become better at our jobs. But are we doing enough for our whole selves—our mental, emotional, and overall wellbeing?
In my work as a coach, I’ve noticed a common thread: many of us operate in short bursts of motivation. We set fitness goals, career objectives, or temporary self-care practices, but we don’t often step back and consider the whole picture of our personal growth and development. We’re doing specific things to improve individual areas of our lives, but we’re not looking at how it all connects.
The result? Burnout. Exhaustion. That feeling of pushing hard and yet still feeling like we’re not moving forward in a meaningful, balanced way.
The Problem with ‘Fits and Starts’
When we focus on one area—fitness, for example—we pour all of our energy into it for a while. Maybe it’s a few weeks, maybe a few months. But then life gets busy, other priorities take over, and suddenly, the gym gets forgotten. Or, we might start a diet with enthusiasm, but after a couple of slip-ups, we feel defeated and stop altogether.
These fits and starts are not failures—they’re simply symptoms of a deeper issue: we don’t have a holistic plan for our personal growth. We haven’t stopped to think about how each part of our wellbeing—physical, emotional, mental—fits together. We’re working on pieces of ourselves, but not the whole.
What’s the Missing Link?
If we treated our personal growth like we treat fitness or career development, would things be different? Imagine having a personal development plan that addresses every aspect of your wellbeing—one that helps you to thrive, not just in short bursts, but sustainably.
The question is, why don’t more of us do this?
Here are a few reasons:
- Lack of Awareness: Many people aren’t even aware that they can have an overall strategy for their wellbeing. We tend to see personal growth as something that happens in response to a crisis—burnout, exhaustion, or a major life event—rather than something to nurture consistently.
- Focus on External Goals: We’re taught to pursue external achievements—career promotions, fitness milestones, material success. While these are important, they don’t address the deeper, internal growth that can create lasting fulfillment.
- No Clear Plan: People often dive into personal growth activities without a structured approach. They do what’s trendy at the time (like meditation or journaling) but without an understanding of how it fits into their overall wellbeing.
What Could Be Different with a Plan?
What if, instead of responding to exhaustion or waiting for a life crisis to hit, we had a proactive approach to our wellbeing?
- A Personal Action Plan: With a structured plan, you could have clear, realistic steps for each area of your life—emotional, mental, physical, and even social wellbeing. This kind of holistic approach helps maintain balance, reduces the risk of burnout, and creates long-lasting change. Like completing a puzzle, all aspects come together to create a whole picture of wellbeing.
- Consistent Progress: Instead of fits and starts, you’d be able to make steady, sustainable progress in all areas of your life. A clear action plan would prevent the burnout that comes from neglecting one area while over-focusing on another.
- An Energised, Connected Self: When we stop to consider the whole—how our mental health affects our physical energy, how emotional wellbeing supports productivity, how balance in all aspects of life reduces stress—the result is not only a healthier mind and body but a deeper connection with yourself. You’re able to identify what truly brings you joy and fulfillment.
Knowing What’s Required to Complete the Puzzle
When we approach a puzzle, there’s a method to the madness. Most of us start with the outer edges, creating a frame and laying the foundation for the entire picture. Once the edges are in place, we begin to group similar pieces together, making the task more manageable and enjoyable. Having this plan allows us to tackle the puzzle without the frustration of “what next?”—because we know exactly what to focus on.
The same goes for our wellbeing. When you have a clear plan of action—knowing where to start, what steps to take, and how each piece of your well-being fits together—it eliminates the energy-draining guesswork. You become less reactive and more intentional, able to work toward your personal growth with focus and purpose. Each step becomes easier because you know where it fits in the bigger picture, and over time, the process becomes second nature.
By having this clear strategy in place, you can enjoy the process of self-care and personal growth, making it a part of your routine rather than something that feels scattered or overwhelming.
Are You Prioritising You?
The key to real, sustainable personal growth is developing a plan that focuses on you. Not just on one aspect of your life, but the whole.
So, the big question is: are you ready to make that shift and complete the puzzle of your wellbeing?
🗒️My private Facebook group Beyond Motherhood is growing in number, with women like you looking to reconnect with themselves, prioritise their wellbeing, and explore meaningful personal growth. If that resonates with you, I invite you to join us on this journey. https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyondmeasmother/
