If you’re focused on making personal improvements and have any aspirations that you’re really serious about, you can make great strides by putting personal development goals in place. It’s a great place to start. By putting goals in place, you’ll be taking greater control of your life, holding yourself accountable for your personal improvement, and you’ll be moving closer to your target.

Personal development goals are the first step in achieving more. You can become a happier, healthier person. Here are some examples of personal development goals that can have a positive impact on your life.

1. Adopt a growth mindset. By shifting your attitude to one of consistent renewal and growth, you acknowledge that your personal development journey never ends. The job of becoming the best version of you is one you will work at every day of your life. A growth mindset ensures that you maintain a focus on change and renewal, encouraging you to learn, grow, and change over time.

2. Face and embrace your fears. Understanding what causes your fears and doubts is the first step to eliminating it from your life. By embracing fear and placing yourself in situations that have previously caused you to be afraid, you can learn how to overcome it head on. It may take time, but you’ll eventually move forward with certainty and calm. Sometimes, we fear only those things with which we are not familiar or don’t understand, so facing and embracing your fear takes away the power it holds over you.

3. Focus on resiliency. Your innate ability to overcome adversity is resilience, and it’s what helps you overcome problems and tackle obstacles head-on. Emphasize resiliency and make it a priority; actively work toward your goals. You’ll become more self-confident and courageous as you overcome obstacles. Resiliency empowers you and allows you to keep going – even when something doesn’t go your way. You know that you can succeed.

4. Check your body language. Your body is sending messages through non-verbal cues – be sure they’re communicating effectively. Your facial expressions, posture, and gestures speak volumes – are they conveying confidence? Defensiveness? Sincerity? Be mindful of your body language so that you look engaged, interested, and capable. You want to convey confidence. This might take some practice, but it’s a great way to communicate the just what kind of person you are.

5. Take advantage of the morning. Early risers are believed to experience benefits over those who sleep late. Those who wake early are more apt to make time for exercise in their daily routine, start their day off with goals set and priorities made, and manage their time better overall. This can result in increased productivity and reduced stress.

7. Practice mindfulness. When you’re mindful, you are accepting of yourself and your feelings, aware of and in touch with your feelings, and you are completely in the present. You are not in a state of reaction – you’re at peace with what is going on around you. Mindfulness puts you in the present rather than in the past or present and encourages you to enjoy life as you’re living it. You’re truly in the now.

7. Healthy relationships. Building strong relationships with others, even in the face of differences, is something that takes work. By relating to others honestly, transparently, and kindly will ensure that you get along and develop meaningful connections. The focus is not on manipulating anyone, it is rather to interact positively, treat one another with respect, and eliminate conflict. Healthy relationships foster personal growth.

8. Read and learn. Reading expands your knowledge, exposes you to new ideas, insights, and opinions, frees you from your everyday burdens, exercises your mind, and helps you to find innovative solutions to your problems. Reading promotes happiness and personal satisfaction, and the new skills you develop from reading can help you achieve your personal goals.

9. Control your stress. Managing stress is vital for your physical as well as your psychological health and well being. What is at the top of your stress list? What actions can you take to reduce your stress? There are lots of activities that can help you to lower your stress, but it’s a great idea to know what your stress triggers are and work toward eliminating them. This is an excellent self-care strategy for everyone.

10. Let go of your limitations. When you limit yourself by your beliefs and fears, you don’t allow yourself to achieve your goals. Ignore any self-imposed limitations you’ve got. Give yourself permission to try new things and take new risks. Yes, you’ll stumble in the process, but by experiencing failure as well as success, you’ll grow. You’ll expand your skills too. Let go of your fear, reach beyond your limiting boundaries, and you’ll realize your true potential.