How to Become the Best Version of Yourself – Guide to Self-Awareness and Personal Development
Written by Marie-Louise Gessner, Life Coach
Marie Gessner, a powerful ACC coach, is working to support you in finding your answers in life's areas. She brings my listening, and together we explore your answers.
Striving to become the best version of yourself is a journey filled with insights, challenges, and growth. It is not about becoming someone else, but about discovering, understanding, and refining the strengths and qualities that already exist within you. So ask yourself, who were you yesterday?
Below you will find five clear steps to get started, and for each section there are coaching questions to help you reflect and deepen your self-awareness.
1. Explore who you are, be curious about yourself
The first step towards becoming your best version is to truly understand yourself. What matters to you? Which values guide your choices? When you get to know yourself, you can make decisions grounded in your own needs and dreams, not the expectations of others.
Coaching questions:
What makes me happy and engaged?
Which values are most important to me?
When do I feel most authentic?
What do I want to explore further?
2. Set clear goals, write them down
Without goals, it is easy to lose direction. Set concrete and realistic goals that inspire you and feel meaningful. Remember, your goals should be your own and reflect what you truly want to achieve.
Coaching questions:
What do I want to accomplish in the coming year?
Which small steps can I take today?
How will I know I am on the right track?
What could be improved or changed to make my situation better?
3. Accept and learn from past and future setbacks
Everyone faces obstacles along the way, but your ability to handle setbacks will determine how you develop. See difficulties as lessons rather than failures. By daring to be vulnerable and reflecting on your experiences, you can grow stronger and braver.
Coaching questions:
What have I learned from my recent challenges?
Which inner voice is loudest right now, and what does it want to tell me?
How can I use my experiences to grow?
In what ways can I be kinder to myself when things get tough?
4. Cultivate gratitude and presence
In everyday stress, it is easy to forget to appreciate what we have. By practising gratitude and being present in the moment, you can strengthen your joy in life and create better relationships. Small things like taking a walk, keeping a gratitude journal, or listening to someone with full attention can make a big difference.
Coaching questions:
What am I grateful for today?
When do I feel most present in the moment?
How can I give myself more time for recovery?
What do I need to feel present?
5. Act and evaluate regularly
Your development requires that you take action and evaluate your progress. Make small changes and assess what works. Be open to adjusting your goals and methods as you learn more about yourself. Here you can use journalling, a private space where you write down everything happening within you regarding your personal development. This “mind dump” reduces inner stress and creates clarity.
Coaching questions:
What concrete steps have I taken this week?
What can I do differently going forward?
How can I celebrate my successes?
How do I measure my progress?
Final words
The journey towards becoming your best version is personal and unique. The most important thing is to take small steps and be kind to yourself along the way. Let the coaching questions help you reflect and find new insights, and remember, every day is a new opportunity to develop. See this as a work in progress that will move you forward if you truly want to create change.
Your journey towards your goals is your own personal journey, so do not compare yourself to anyone else’s. That only leads to frustration and limits your potential. You are not meant to become someone else. You want to become you, but an updated version of yourself.
I will finish with the words of Rob Dial Jr.:
“Knowing yourself is based in the past. Learning yourself is based in the present.”
Marie-Louise Gessner, Life Coach
Marie’s mission is to see others rise and live the life they want. With coaching as a method, Marie helps individuals and groups find clarity, overcome obstacles, set plans, and develop potential and personal growth. Through powerful dialogues in listening, she brings you the supportive tools, and you decide if you will take action on your own answers between the sessions. You do the work, and she is behind you for support.
