Self-improvement is a journey that a lot of us start without really knowing what to expect. It’s not a straight path, and there are plenty of challenges along the way. Over the years, I’ve gone through different stages of self-improvement, learning something new each time and figuring out what actually works.
In this article, I’m going to talk about these stages, starting with what I like to call the "Canon Event." Just so you know, this isn’t my original idea. The term "Canon Event" comes from the "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" movies. In those movies, a Canon Event is a big moment in a character’s life that changes everything for them. It’s a turning point that pushes them to grow and make changes—whether they’re ready or not.
Even though it’s from a movie, I think it perfectly describes that key moment in our own lives that sets us on the path to self-improvement. So, let’s get into it and explore the different stages you might go through on your own journey
Stage 1: The Canon Event
We all have our Canon Event—a moment where everything feels like it’s crumbling, and you just want to vanish from the world. It’s that gut-wrenching experience where life seems unbearable. Maybe you lost your job, or your relationship fell apart. For some, this event is more painful than others, and I’d argue that the more intense your Canon Event, the faster you’ll be motivated to improve your life.
Your speed of improvement isn’t about how long you’ve been on the self-improvement journey; it’s about how much suffering you’re willing to endure to make things better. If your life was really tough before this event, you’re more prepared to take on that pain to create a better future. This Canon Event happens when all the negative choices you’ve made—like endless scrolling on social media, eating junk food, or skipping workouts—finally catch up with you. If your life is just comfortable enough, you might never experience a Canon Event strong enough to drive real change, and that’s why many people stay stuck in mediocrity.
Stage 2: The Rabbit Hole
After your Canon Event, you turn to YouTube, seeking self-improvement advice. You dive into videos from people like Jordan Peterson, Andrew Tate, and David Goggins. There’s so much to learn, so you watch everything—from mental health tips to workout routines, meditation, and journaling.
But despite all this knowledge, you find it hard to take action. You try building new habits but fail after just a few days. It’s frustrating because you know what you should be doing, yet you can’t seem to do it. This stage can feel even worse than the Canon Event because now you’re aware of what you need to change, but it’s just so damn hard to do it. This is especially true if you’ve been living a life of comfort and instant gratification. Changing old habits is tough when all you’ve known is chasing fun.
Stage 3: The Motivation Surge
Slowly, you start to build better habits. You’re getting some good streaks going, and you think, "Wow, this is actually working!" Self-improvement becomes your identity—you’re disciplined, hardworking, and maybe even trying to bring your friends on board.
But let’s be real, a lot of this motivation might just be a burst from watching too many Andrew Tate or Iman Gadzhi videos. At this point, self-improvement feels fun and rewarding, and you’re making progress. However, this stage isn’t sustainable in the long run, as you’ll see in the next phase.
The Different Stages of Self-Improvement
11 Aug 2024 | 4 min read
Stage 4: The Motivation Dip
In stage four, that initial motivation starts to fade. You don’t feel like waking up early anymore, and the progress you expected just isn’t there. Watching motivational videos doesn’t help like it used to, and you find yourself slipping back into old habits—playing video games, losing your routine, and thinking that self-improvement is just too hard. You start indulging in instant gratification again.
But after a few weeks or months, you might return to self-improvement, perhaps because you’ve had another Canon Event. This begins the cycle of stages three and four all over again. Personal experience: I started with self-improvement about 3 or 4 years ago. At first, I didn’t do much, so I was stuck in stage one for nearly a year. Only about two years ago did I take it seriously. I’d have periods of a month where I’d try to improve, then do nothing for 3 to 5 months before repeating the cycle. I went through stages three and four maybe six times, but with each cycle, I learned something new. If you’re smart, you learn from your mistakes and eventually break the cycle.
Stage 5: The Realization
Finally, you realize that self-improvement is tough and often sucks, but you do it anyway. You go into it with realistic expectations, knowing you won’t always get everything right, and that’s okay. You don’t need to watch thousands of videos to motivate yourself anymore—you just do it because it’s good for you. You start thinking long-term, and self-improvement becomes more of a tool than an identity.
It makes you more effective in everyday life, and you use the benefits to put in hard, honest work that can change the world in a meaningful way. Most people don’t understand this, but meditation and journaling aren’t the be-all and end-all. They make you a better-functioning human being, but without actual work to do, self-improvement is useless. So, go out and do something with your life.
The Different Stages of Self-Improvement
We all have our Canon Event—a moment where everything feels like it’s crumbling, and you just want to vanish from the world. It’s that gut-wrenching experience where life seems unbearable. Maybe you lost your job, or your relationship fell apart. For some, this event is more painful than others, and I’d argue that the more intense your Canon Event, the faster you’ll be motivated to improve your life.
PERSONAL GROWTH
Constantly Learning. Constantly Evolving.
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