Self-Improvement is a worthwhile goal regardless of your age. But let’s face it, before we hit 40, most of us are too busy getting an education, then getting a job, then getting a house, then getting married, then getting kids, then getting pets…and basically, just getting. During this time, we also do a lot of giving…to our families, our friends, our employers, and possibly our church and community. But generally, the person we neglect the most during this time is ourselves.

That’s not to say we aren’t focused on ourselves. The degree of self-centeredness can run the gamut from people who think only of themselves to people who think only of others. But wherever we are on the spectrum, the focus tends to be on what we think is going on around us and how it impacts us; not on what’s really going on within us. In other words, we are focused on reacting to our life rather than actively creating it.

Once we hit 40, we have generally reached an age where we can reflect on where we’ve been, think about where we are now, and decide where we want to go from here. We can also think about who we are and who we want to be. Unfortunately, though, many people never get around to doing this. Here are 40 reasons why you may want to work on self-improvement once you’re past the age of 40:

Self-Improvement can…

1. Show you how to achieve inner peace.
2. Help you figure out your life purpose.
3. Explain how you can improve your relationships.
4. Teach you how to focus on what you want and take action.
5. Help you put your childhood into perspective and move on.
6. Increase your self-confidence.
7. Empower you to take personal responsibility for your life.
8. Assist you in achieving personal freedom.
9. Help you make better financial decisions.
10. Prepare you for when the kids move out.
11. Demonstrate the power of being honest; with yourself as well as others.
12. Show you the freedom and joy that come from loving unconditionally.
13. Motivate you to take better care of yourself.
14. Help you see the power of gratitude.
15. Coach you on how to identify and achieve your goals.
16. Teach you how to take control of your thinking, rather than letting others do it for you.
17. Give you the skills to handle difficult situations, like divorce or death of a loved one.
18. Show you how to accept yourself and others.
19. Instruct you on how to develop a more spiritual life that’s compatible with your beliefs.
20. Help you figure out who you really are; not necessarily the image you show the world.
21. Allow you to challenge any limiting beliefs that have been holding you back.
22. Guide you to an understanding of the kind of work you really want to do.
23. Teach you how to overcome your fears.
24. Help you set a good example for your children.
25. Reveal to you your ability to keep learning and growing.
26. Show you how to focus on the present.
27. Help you learn how to achieve financial freedom.
28. Give you the tools you need to achieve better health.
29. Explain how to quiet your mind when you’re experiencing non-stop brain chatter.
30. Give you the strength to handle unexpected burdens, like caring for aging parents.
31. Inform you of how to figure out what you want to do once you retire.
32. Show you how to lighten up and enjoy life.
33. Help you decide if you are living where you really want to live.
34. Give you the courage to do something you’ve always wanted to do, like write a book.
35. Teach you how to forgive so you can get on with your life.
36. Show you how to give up unhealthy habits; like smoking, overeating, or procrastinating.
37. Instruct you on how to set boundaries with people who drain your energy.
38. Assist you in dealing with the unthinkable, like the imprisonment of someone you know.
39. Prepare you to tackle an unexpected job loss or foreclosure of your home.
40. Help you realize your full potential and create your best possible life.

I hope the above will get you thinking about potential areas for self-improvement. It has certainly reminded me of some things I need to do, and now is the perfect time to do it. September is Self-Improvement Month…and the month’s not over yet! You still have plenty of time to start incorporating self-improvement into your life.

Take just one minute now to think of an area in your life you’d like to improve; and then make a commitment to do it. Don’t be one of the millions of people who just take what life gives them and never get around to creating the life they could have had. And don’t worry if you’re already well past 40. As the French say, “mieux vaut tard que jamais!”

Kara Lane

P.S. If you feel you just don’t have time for self-improvement, you might want to check out our blog post on how to Fit Self-Improvement into Your Spare Time.