The second part of this definition relates to surrendering control. Rather than attempting to force an outcome, we allow ourselves to understand.
Self-Improvement and the Practical Use of Knowledge
We can also see how a focus on the practical application of knowledge through self improvement relates to a person’s overall spiritual growth and development. Here are some examples.
Knowledge is only as good as how you use it. The practice of self improvement involves acquiring knowledge through reading or formal education in order to become a better person.
We all want to be recognised for our accomplishments and we will go to great lengths to attain our goals.
Limits and Stress Within Self-Improvement
Development of a person’s self-improvement is often confused with the actual practice of self-improvement. However, the majority of people will only have some form of self-improvement as part of their process to achieve success.
This makes self-improvement less effective. Self-improvement does help to establish our very foundation upon which we build our self-improvement support systems, if you will.
Goals in Self-Improvement Versus Spiritual Growth
Self-improvement uses goals to create a structure in which to move towards something in the future—whether it be a successful career, better health, or personal habits; therefore, success is usually the main indicator of progress.
The structured approach to measuring self-improvement has given rise to many productivity systems, as well as performance tracking and timelines to help people stay on track. In addition, influencers and coaches have created frameworks for goal-setting in order to help clients maximise their results.
Spiritual Growth Cannot Be Measured
As a result, it is impossible to measure or to create a plan for progress on a spiritual path since it occurs through insight and observation. Therefore, the way that consciousness is approached on both spiritual growth and self-improvement paths creates two entirely different identities and approaches to inner development.
Identity and Ego in Inner Development
The identity that one creates through self-improvement vs. the identity that is created through spiritual growth is the primary difference between these two paths to inner development. Self-improvement creates stronger identities through success and achievement, while, at the same time, developing a person into a more confident, successful, and disciplined version of themselves; thus, the ego is eventually refined rather than examined.
The balance of spiritual growth and personal development through building competencies and confidence, strengthens individuals’ personal development and self-sufficiency. This method is the basis of many leadership/development programs, as they are created to establish or validate people with an effective ability to function within society.
Observing the Ego in Spiritual Growth
In contrast, the process of spiritual growth is to establish and explore the identity itself, asking deeper penetrating questions about what is underneath the outer roles, labels, and accomplishments. Deepak Chopra is a well-known teacher advocating “to observe the ego, and not feed the ego.” He teaches awareness of one’s ego and a new consciousness; as one’s level of awareness and barriers of identity expand, so does the ability to separate from the attachment to one’s identity.
As one’s consciousness grows, one’s attachment to their identity will diminish. Instead of focusing on emotional development and your definition of yourself, it is more about being present and aware of your feeling or emotion.
Emotional Outcomes: Self-Improvement vs Spiritual Growth
One of the primary differences regarding emotional outcomes of spiritual growth compared to emotional outcomes of self-improvement is the definition of how to change your emotions. A common focus of self-improvement is to become an improved “you” by learning how to be “better” at managing your emotions.
The result of this approach is improved self-esteem, improved self-resilience, and improved ability to develop emotional regulation skills to assist in managing stress or pressure. Emotionally oriented coaching programs are focused on working with individuals to shift their mindset in order to promote a positive emotional reaction to stress or pressure.
Self-improvement emotional improvement is conditional. Self-improvement individuals seek to seek out the intrinsic value in their progress via external achievements to retrieve positive emotions. Therefore their emotional stability can be unstable at times.
Emotional Acceptance in Spiritual Evolution
In contrast, the approach to emotional growth by spiritual evolution is to observe your emotions and accept them instead of trying to change them.
Over time, through the acceptance of one’s emotional state and not resisting one’s emotional state, an individual can attain a greater degree of emotional balance than they experience through emotional self-improvement. Joy and serenity are experienced without the necessity of meeting the external condition.
Methods of Growth: Action Versus Awareness
In Self-Improvement, the methods of personal growth are generally systematic and action-oriented. These include the use of established routines, habits, and measurable practices.
Some of the teachings of spiritual leaders such as Sri Ramana Maharshi emphasize a way of developing awareness, that is to say, through observing one’s own mental activity. Rather than placing a focus on performing certain physical activities, the teachings emphasize simply being aware.
Choiceless Awareness and Conscious Observation
He contends that the way in which the consciousness develops is by paying attention to what is going on, rather than trying to force an issue.
As we begin to pay more attention to the way in which we perceive our thoughts, we have less of an attachment to those thoughts. When one understands how consciousness develops in this way, one will also naturally experience many different experiences in their daily life.
Integration of Awareness and Daily Life
Ultimately both methods are used in a manner that creates the opportunity to develop a new state of consciousness gradually over one’s lifetime. As a result, the methods and outcomes may differ; however, both methods provide opportunities to develop how one lives and interacts with others in their day-to-day activities.
The exploration of consciousness is a more in-depth exploration of the mind than just what someone thinks at any given time. When we observe our thinking, we separate ourselves from the noise generated by the thought process itself.
As such, all of these changes lead to a more structured way of approaching life, and subsequently, create an environment for maximum productivity and efficiency.
Daily Decision-Making Through Self-Improvement
When people look at their day-to-day activities as they correlate with their individual self-improvement, they will make daily decisions based on the result they are looking to achieve. This is why we select what actions we are going to take on a daily basis, based upon their potential to assist us in becoming better individuals.
In doing so, we build a level of motivation and discipline in ourselves through this daily process. However, this can also put added pressure on us.
The Subtle Influence of Spiritual Growth on Daily Life
On the other hand, the influence that spiritual growth has on people is much less obvious on a day-to-day basis. People continue to do the same types of daily activities, however, their perception of those daily activities changes.
Even though it was the same work, it has now become a much more present and mindful awareness of the present moment. As a result of this awareness of the present moment, life tends to be less fast or hurried.
Responding Rather Than Reacting to Life
The most obvious change that the spiritual path provides and creates for the individual is the way in which they have been responding to the world around them. People on the spiritual path tend to respond, rather than react, to life situations.
The internal growth and development that someone achieves through the spiritual path creates a clear reflection of the type of patience and compassion that they possess.
How Each School of Thought Defines Success and Fulfillment
Self improvement is measured differently from spiritual growth and success. For self improvement, many people see success through results or the progress made from taking action toward desired results (i.e., “I’ve accomplished something”), and on the basis of gaining recognition from achievements, and/or increasing one’s status.
Thus, while accomplishment is linked to success in self improvement, Fulfillment is also linked to accomplishment. This definition for success is useful in a professional setting and in society.
Spiritual Definitions of Success
The spiritual growth perspective is much quieter in its understanding of what constitutes success. In this view, success is measured by the amount of peace, clarity, inner conflict, and other attributes of the self that one experiences.
A person does not achieve fulfillment because they accomplished something, as they align with their inner self and therefore feel fulfilled without ever needing to receive applause or praise from anyone.
Teachers such as Dalai Lama have spoken about compassion and inner peace as being the definition of true success. Satisfaction for the individual arises out of acceptance and awareness. This viewpoint minimizes dependency upon results as the sole measure of success.
Understanding the difference in these definitions also helps clarify why the long-term impact of Self Improvement and Spiritual Growth is so different with respect to the perspective a person holds toward life.
Long-Term Effects of Self Improvement and Spiritual Growth on Life Perspective
Long-term effects for Self Improvement and Spiritual Growth produce a different perspective on life. Long-term Self Improvement may produce more competent and confident individuals.
Over time, as individuals build upon the skills, habits and discipline they developed through Self Improvement, they will feel greater control of their existence and find meaning in their actions.
At the same time, long-term Self Improvement may produce an individual who feels they have to constantly strive to be better, that their desire to become a better person will never go away. If you are dependent on progress to provide you with a sense of Satisfaction, then the feeling of Satisfaction will be fleeting. This leads to subtle restlessness.
Inner Growth and Integrated Awareness
Spiritual traditions and modern philosophers emphasise inner growth over external growth. Our anxiety is gradually replaced by an understanding of our true nature as conscious beings.
Instead of doing something to be something, our focus shifts toward being; and this allows us to see both ways of being in a more integrated way.
Self-improvement helps provide the framework, discipline and functional avenues to develop their Inner-Self, and spiritual growth adds additional depth, to the awareness of who you are, and emotional balance.
Balancing Self-Improvement Tools With Spiritual Awareness
When integrated appropriately, self-improvement can assist with providing you with the necessary tools to manage your daily life. Using the tools of self-improvement, one can build their lifestyle habits, routine, and goal development to successfully accomplish their ambitions.
However the spiritual growth aspect of human development helps to soften the attachment to the end result or accomplishment, and provides a level of awareness that alleviates the pressure that accompanies trying to achieve success, as well as alleviates the burn-out that can happen when trying to achieve success.
Many Amazon and Google teachers advocate a balanced approach to the integration of these two areas of development. For example, the work of Sadhguru encourages the use of the mind as an efficient tool for guidance and action, rather than allowing oneself to become entrapped in the mind.
The internal growth of the individual supports the creation of a stable foundation to achieve success, while the successful attainment of personal goals and objectives creates a meaningful and lasting sense of fulfilment for the individual.
Conclusion
While spiritual growth and self-improvement look at human development from an entirely different perspective, each brings its own value to the individual, depending on where they are in life’s journey.
When the two forms of human development are wisely balanced, the result will be a deeper experience of personal growth and fulfilment for both forms of growth.
