Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Understanding your boundaries and pushing them
• Part 2 of 2: Using your powers
• Tips

Author Robert Louis Stephenson once said that “To be what we are and to become what we can become is the only purpose in life.” In other words, the main purpose in life is to become yourself, whatever that is. means you. Personal development can take place in various ways. That depends a bit on your living conditions. So it would be a mistake to set certain expectations for your personal development based on previous expectations for it. Just because you think you haven't reached your full potential at a certain age doesn't mean you will never become what you could or would like to become. There are endless possibilities that can be achieved with our mind and body even later in life. Whatever your age or social class, you can learn to actively pursue your goals. Maybe you're just a late bloomer reaching your fullest potential a little later than the people around you.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Understanding your boundaries and pushing them

1. Find out if you are a late bloomer. A late bloomer is someone who reaches the fullest potential of any area of ​​his or her life later than his or her peers. A late bloomer is not a failure. He or she is just a little later than the others. There are many different types of late bloomers:
   • Educational late bloomer. This means that your grades at school are not very great until you suddenly develop and pass a lot of other children. You may have been able to link what you do at school to a purpose later in life. Or you used what you are learning about to make your life better at the time. Whatever the case, you are more likely to thrive in an educational setting if you understand why you learn what you learn.
   • Career late bloomer. Some late bloomers spend the first 15 to 20 years of their adult life wondering what they really want for a career. Then you suddenly fall in and do a fantastic job. Thriving in your career means that you are passionate about what you do. Maybe you love the people you work with or feel passionate about the things you accomplish. If you don't feel passionate about something, ask your friends and family where they feel passionate about their careers. Or you can look for other work to find your passion. Passion is very important to people.
   • Social late bloomer. When everyone was having their first time, the idea of ​​making new friends and starting relationships was strange or maybe even scary to you. Until one day you found out that talking to people isn't as scary as it seems and your social circle started to develop.
2. Recognize your limitations. Especially early in life we ​​base a large part of the decisions we make on whether we feel safe in our environment. Just as important is our ability to bond with other people. Even later in life, childhood fears can sometimes hold you back.
   • By experimenting with the boundaries of your environment you can challenge yourself to go through your insecurities. If you do that you can discover new possibilities for your life.
   • To get out of your limits, you have to try new things in many areas of your life. When given the opportunity, you should be open to new experiences. Steps below provide more specific suggestions.
3. Experiment with your daily activities and your environment. Psychologists believe that our individual capacities are strongly linked to the environment in which we live. Experiment with these conditions by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
   • For example, imagine spending most of your time alone at home or working in isolation in an office. Then it is quite unlikely that you will get better at qualities related to physical health or sociality. This will be the case even though those traits are part of your genetic inheritance.
   • To go beyond these restrictions, you can join a sports group. Or you could go for a walk in the park more often. Either way, changing your environment or doing things with your body that you're not used to can lead to new emotions and ideas about what's possible.
4. Develop new relationships. Associating with the same people over and over can reduce your opportunities for personal growth. When you come into contact with people who have different opinions, you can broaden your thoughts about what you think is possible for you and the world.
   • Dealing with new people can show you new things. It can challenge prejudice and stereotypes and expose you to new ways of living.
   • Start a conversation with a stranger in a cafe or join a discussion group with people you share interests with.
   • If you don't think you can meet new people but still want to find a new person to talk to, you can always make an appointment with a mental health professional or a life coach. They can lend a listening ear and give you strategies on how to get out of your comfort zone.
5. Think again about how you see yourself. We often prevent ourselves from reaching our full potential because we have unrealistic ideas about who we should be. These expectations can come from your childhood. Maybe they stem from your parents' expectations. Even looking at other people's Facebook pages can create unrealistic expectations about life.
   • Whatever the source of these expectations, it is important that you don't let them get in your way. When you feel them coming on, take a deep breath and focus on what you can do in that moment to make your life better.
   • Try to ground your expectations of the future in your perception of the moment you are in now. Focus on working towards your goal instead of the result.
   • For example, imagine that you think you need a new friend. Think about how you will achieve this goal if you start now. Do you just get a new friend by thinking about it or do you have to talk to new people first? Perhaps the first step is to surround yourself with new people.
6. Don't compare your life to that of others. We are all unique people with different physical characteristics and biological builds. This means that we all develop at a different pace. People reach different milestones at different times and in their own way.
   • Most people's brains stop its steady development when they are in their late twenties. But the body remains fairly flexible throughout your life. This sometimes allows for quite dramatic changes in personality and behavior even later in life.
   • No two bodies develop in the same way and according to the same rhythm. That means you can achieve cultural and biological milestones at different times in your life than others. Sometimes it's okay if you don't reach them at all.
   • For example, puberty can start at many different ages. It often changes with things like race, body fat percentage and your stress level. There is no point in trying to force your body to enter puberty before it is ready. You are just putting unnecessary pressure on yourself to be something that you are not.
   • If you find yourself comparing yourself to other people, take a deep breath and focus on the present. Feeling happiness and passion for the things you do in your daily life is the best way to allow yourself to flourish whatever your age.
7. Try deep breathing exercises or mindfulness. Meditation and breathing exercises can make you focus more on the processes in your body in the moment. These are great ways to deal with obsessive or unwanted thoughts about the future or the past.
   • To do a simple meditation, sit in a comfortable place with your hands in your lap. Take a deep, slow breath and feel the air pass through your body. Focus entirely on your breathing. When you feel your focus diminish, bring it all the way back to your breathing and the moment you are in.
   • As you get better at focusing on the present, let your thoughts go to things that interest you. This way you can develop goals and expectations based on your own desires and passions.

Part 2 of 2: Using your powers

1. Get introspective. Late bloomers are often deep thinkers who reflect a lot. They sometimes feel a bit more of a need to be in control of life than their peers. You are probably a smart person. Find a way to make your reflective personality work for you.
   • The fact that you like to reflect on life and be in control sometimes means that others are reaching their goals before you. But because you think carefully, when you get the chance, you'll be ready to take charge.
   • Practice creative writing. If you spend a lot of time at home or if you're just looking for something to spend your time on, try writing creatively. This can be either poetry or prose. Either way, creative writing can be a great way to develop your creative side. This allows you to develop into something unexpected.
   • Try to make art or music. These activities can also help you develop your creative side.
2. Write down your thoughts. If you write down your thoughts and ideas, you can get in touch with your desires and potential. The process you are going through can also help other people. Especially relatives.
   • Traits like yours can be hereditary. If your children or other family members can learn from your experiences, you've made someone else's life a little easier.
   • Keep a diary. Keeping a journal can be a great way to discover your emotions and give them more freedom in your daily life. Do not try to impose any structure on your writing. Just write down everything that comes to mind. Sit down and associate freely. You will still be amazed at what comes out. This can also make you more introspective and think more deeply.
   • Have an idea book handy. Keep a journal with you in which you can write down all your ideas. Put it next to your bed or keep it in your purse. This can help you if you are struggling to make a decision or if you have low self-confidence. Write down an idea as soon as you get it. Late bloomers are often full of ideas. Sometimes so much that they don't know what to do with it. Sometimes you may have no idea what to do when an idea comes to mind. But that idea is important and it can be useful later on when you read it again.
3. Know your strengths. Late bloomers often have a number of very valuable qualities. This often includes reflection, thoughtfulness and patience. Late bloomers often have a good ability to think abstractly and are often creative.
   • Use these strengths to build confidence and boost when things get worse.
   • Because you are so patient and thoughtful, others often come to you with their problems. Use your skills to help them. Your patience and thoughtfulness are also things to consider when choosing a career or lifestyle. Maybe you would be a great counselor or academic.
4. Trust yourself and your skills. You make progress and you can overcome challenges. If you are struggling for a moment, talk to yourself and remind yourself that you are a competent person with valuable skills.
   • It may take longer for you to achieve performance. Remember that instant success isn't always fairytale. Many people are afraid to take positive steps because they feel rushed and don't know what they are doing. Late bloomers avoid this because they know what they are doing and they take the time it takes.
   • Also learn from your mistakes. The obstacles you face are not personal failures. They can be a source of important insights and you can learn from them how to do things differently next time.
5. Enjoy your success and build on it. When you accomplish something important in your life, acknowledge that moment. Use that success to motivate yourself to achieve even more.
   • It may have taken you a long time to reach your goals, but on the other hand, you probably know better what you are doing than people who reached their goals earlier.
   • People can come to you for help when they notice how much experience and knowledge you have. You have taken the time to think deeply about life. Furthermore, you have drawn your own conclusions instead of taking them from others.

Tips

• Help other late bloomers find their way through life. Remind them that they are not lagging behind or less smart than other people. We are all valuable and all have a purpose in life.
• Develop a sense of humor. Laugh often and certainly at yourself. Laughter reduces stress and makes life's challenges easier to deal with.