Accurate Assessment Is a Crucial Skill for Self-Growth

When we set out on a new journey of growth and development, it’s a learning curve figuring out how to properly assess our life. By surrendering to this truth of proper assessment early on, we gain a powerful frame of mind which provides a safety net when we become frustrated, impatient, or ultimately, despondent with failure or slow progress! And we’ll need it, because, truth be told… this is what typically happens.

“Do not be impatient with your seemingly slow progress. Do not try to run faster than you presently can. If you are studying, reflecting and trying, you are making progress whether you are aware of it or not. A traveler walking the road in the darkness of night is still going forward. Someday, some way, everything will break open, like the natural unfolding of a rosebud.”

Vernon Howard

Essentially, we are on the path of rectification – “the action of putting something right; correction.” When I was first emerging from the awareness of what I wanted for my life, and after becoming a better observer it became vital to learn accurate and fair assessment of, let’s call it, “the old me” and the me that’s a “work-in-progress”. I needed to drop critical or disdainful self-talk of past blunders or being blinded by the coveted end-result which only fueled my impatience and didn’t support or encourage my healing. In fact, this poor assessment was counterproductive and unreasonable!

First, I had to release myself from the self-imposed penance of past behavior which fabricated a never-ending audio replay of biased and exaggerated berating.

Second, I needed moderate, deliberate, and simple standards of new behaviors that could be comfortably inserted into daily life and better managed to avoid the mental quicksand of brutal self-judgment and projected failure.

Third, and most importantly, I needed to assess with lovingkindness, the kind that we’d show to a small child, unbiased of prior history and focused on possibility. Because learning something new is the same as that of a young child learning a new attitude or behavior and accurate assessment helps shape our future in a positive and healthy way.

I quickly learned that accurate and fair assessment to promote growth was vital to move past ruminating my past choices and regrets. Setting impossible and unfair standards would only strand me in hopelessness and ultimately set me up to quit.”

Teri Mirikitani

Here’s are just a few helpful things I’ve learned about the power of accurate assessment:

1. Focus on the behavior needing correction or adjustment as an opportunity of empowerment, not a failure. Look through the lens of positivity.
2. Fairness in assessing past and current behavior. We were doing the best we knew how, at that moment in time, which also holds true today. We’re doing our best!
3. Honesty in evaluating our strengths and weaknesses. Borrow from our strengths such as determination, dedication, commitment, enthusiasm and organization, etc., as we learn new skills, or try to adjust weak or outdated skills. Don’t dwell on any weaknesses but use them to serve as a reminder and motivation for change and growth.

Its fabulous when we make a shift in self-awareness to create a new way of living life; however, it’s imperative to remember it’s a metamorphosis, a gradual and deliberate process, not a race. All we need to do is take one tiny step for every moment of each day. In doing so, it’s not as overwhelming or daunting and slowly becomes to feel possible. We’ll get there eventually and this part is the real beauty and adventure to “this thing called life” 😉

Keep it Simple,

Just Teri

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