Self Improvement Blogs – Top 10 Essential Directory

Personal Development and Self Improvement Online

No matter how much I shy away from it, more and more of my writing here is about self improvement, self help, personal development or self development. Call it what you will, I’m writing about how to make life better.

Since my goal is to inspire you to live your dream and inform you how to get going, you may be wondering what qualifications I have for writing articles on self improvement and personal development.

The answer is none. I’m not:

• a self improvement coach
• a personal development expert
• a psychologist
• a counsellor
• a neuro-linguistic programmer
• a social worker
• a psychiatrist
• a leader
• a motivational speaker

I’m a working mother who’s been focusing on living my dream my entire adult life.

How I Got Interested in Self Improvement and Personal Development

I think I’ve been lucky in that I’ve always known what my dreams are: travel and writing. But I wasn’t confident enough to pursue them as a career until later in life.

My life goals were quite clear to me even as a child. I wanted to travel, write, get married and have kids. Like most of us, I’m a complicated person with simple goals.

Today I’ve achieved many of my goals and am enjoying an enviable lifestyle. But to get to this point I struggled along the way with lack of confidence and depression.

Having kids was hard for me physically and emotionally. I was a good mother who thought I was bad. I was my own worst enemy, trying to be perfect, and hating myself for falling short of perfection on an hourly basis.

I pulled myself out of that in 2003 thanks to a combination of talk therapy, anti-depressants and endless reading of self help books. In the process I reassessed my life, my life goals and my outlook on life.

Personal Development for Practical People

Here at Get In the Hot Spot I share what worked for me. In particular how I found the strength to carry on (by prioritizing my own happiness) and how I gained the confidence to pursue my dreams (by acknowledging that life is short and many people die without achieving their dreams).

I aim to make my writing practical, fun and accessible to people who’ve never prioritised their own happiness or been interested in self improvement or personal development before.

I want people to stop delaying pursuing their dreams and start living the life they want today.

Why We Need Personal Development

Pick up a copy of a gossip magazine at the supermarket and you’ll see that even celebrities who seem to have everything – looks, talent, fame and fortune – are often unhappy. Happiness is strangely elusive but we’re all struggling to do the best we can in life, so personal development help, inspiration and motivation are always needed.

I’ve read a shed load of self improvement, personal development and self help books. I’m not perfect and I never will be, but I’m always trying to better myself and I’d like to help other people do the same.

Isn’t This What We All Need To Do?

Acknowledge that we are flawed but accept and even rejoice in it. Live life to the full anyway and strike out for your dreams because you believe in them and yourself.

I hope that I’ll be able to carry on writing my blog and inspiring people to live better. Thanks for reading it and for embracing me, warts and all.

Here’s my Top 10 self improvement blogs. Check them out if you have any interest in improving your life. They’re all unique with a different slant on life but each guarantees a thought-provoking and inspiring read. I think this is an essential directory of the best personal development blogs and a great place to get started on your self development journey.

Top 10 Personal Development Blogs

1. Zen Habits

This simple personal development website features well written and easily actionable articles written by someone people can relate to. Proving once and for all that content is king on the Internet, the Zen Habits blog has allowed Guam resident and former journalist, Leo Baubauta, to compete on a level footing with some of the big names in self development, people like Tony Robbins, Steve Pavlina and Dr. Phil.

Zen Habits covers everything including productivity, exercise, finance, motivation and happiness. If you’ve never visited Zen Habits before start with the Zen Habits beginner’s guide here. The Zen Habits brand has recently expanded to cover Zen Family Habits.

2. Art of Manliness

Despite my complete lack of interest in being manly I love this blog. It’s got a cool design and it’s easy to find all the great articles on manly topics like dress and grooming and subjects which would interest anyone like family, relationships, travel and finance. I suppose that when it comes down to it, it’s the high quality of the writing and the diverse range of topics covered that keeps me coming back for me.

3. The Art of Non-Conformity

Chris Guillebeau’s blog has a brilliant name and stunning concept which he sums up saying, “I write, travel, and help people take over the world.” He shows other people how to lead an unconventional lifestyle and achieve their dreams of self-employment and travel. This intrepid writer remains dedicated to his blog and his writing while also fulfilling his personal quest to visit every country in the world in a five year period.

4. Jonathan Fields

Jonathan offers unique personal development with “tips, strategies and conversations at the crossroads of work, life entrepreneurship and play.” Not many people could get away with a byline that long that but Jonathan manages it. He’s got an devilish sense of humor and isn’t afraid to show it. This site’s a great resource and true source of inspiration to professionals, writers and parents. You never know quite what you’ll find there but you always want to read it.

5. LifeDev

This personal development blog specialises in personal productivity, creativity, and getting things done. Writer, Glen Stansberry explains how you can still use structured productivity systems like Getting Things Done (GTD) while working on creative tasks. LifeDev has the best tips on how to work smarter, not harder, as well as more general life-improvement techniques.

6. Life Optimizer

All about personal development and specifically living your life to the fullest. Written by Donald Latumahina to help people who are living below their maximum potential. The Life Optimizer articles focus on how we can achieve as much as possible in life and become more effective so that our true potential will be unleashed.

7. The Happiness Project

Author Gretchen Rubin decided to spend a year dedicating herself to personal development and the pursuit of happiness and writing a soon to be published book about her year. Grethen has built up a dedicated group of fans quickly and if her book is as good as her blog it should be worth reading.

8. Sources of Insight

J.D. Meier started Sources of Insight to “help anybody be their best in any situation”.  He has a deep knowledge of personal development as well as life and business. He shares the best insights and actions from books, people, and quotes at Sources of Insight. If you’re looking for the top patterns and practices for mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun check out Sources of Insight.

9. The Personal Excellence Blog

Celestine writes about conscious living and personal excellence for the conscious and smart individual. Genuine writing on personal development with openness, authenticity and some great personal stories.

10. Upgrade Reality

Diggy provides practical self improvement tips with inspiration and motivation to help his readers live their life to the fullest and become their best selves. He helps people remove self-limiting beliefs that hold them back and sends them on their way to achieving greatness and success.

New Personal Development Blogs To Watch

10′s never quite enough is it? You should also read these hot personal development blogs: The Free Pursuits and Eden Journal.

Photo Credit

Many thanks to Christina Evans for the amazing photo of this orange-barred sulphur butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.

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Thank you! I can’t offer you any incentives, free gifts or prize giveaways but I do promise to keep writing quality self improvement and personal development articles that I hope will inspire, encourage and inform us all on how we can get closer to living our dream life.

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