3 Ways To Reinvent Yourself In 2018

There's never a time quite like the beginning of a new year for some personal reflection. Whether that be by looking forward to the year ahead and idealising the many goals and challenges that one might wish to conquer, or looking back on the year that has passed, and seeing how far one has come in the last 365 days. Whichever bucket you fall into, if any, there is always room for a little reinvention.

Before we get stuck into the 3 forms of reinvention, it's important to highlight where to apply them. This brings us to the key accounts in our lives.

Life's Key Accounts

I can write a whole article on this topic (will have to do so some time in the future), but for now I'll briefly introduce the concept to you and then focus on the topic at hand - reinvention.

Life, as we know it, has 4 to 5 key accounts. These are, in no particular order:

1. Your MENTAL account - knowledge, education, ambition, etc.
2. Your MATERIAL account - finances, career, wealth, etc.
3. Your EMOTIONAL account - relationships, friendships, feelings, etc.
4. Your PHYSICAL account - health, wellness, fitness, etc.
5. Your SPIRITUAL account - faith, religion, belief, etc.

If you want the 'good life', 'happiness' or any form of 'success', I strongly believe that having the above 5 (or 4, if you have no religious or spiritual beliefs) accounts in balance will contribute a large part toward reaching your end goal. Hence, these are the areas that one should focus on when considering any form of reinvention going forward.

The 3 Forms Of Reinvention

1. Reactive Reinvention

This form of reinvention occurs on the back of an external change or event. You have no choice but to react and change in order to move forward.

Examples of when reactive reinvention will occur include:

1. Repossession of property.
2. Being made redundant by your employer.
3. Losing a family member.
4. A relationship falling apart.
5. An unavoidable accident.

These are often unplanned and unavoidable and thus require the individual to 'react'.

2. Proactive Reinvention

Proactive reinvention occurs in the presence of less external catalysts compared to reactive reinvention. It means you will actively seek and act upon a certain idea, objective, goal or ambition relating to an end goal that ties itself to your personal brand without being 'pushed' to do so.

Examples of when proactive reinvention will occur include:

1. You decide to read a book a month.
2. You decide to climb a mountain.
3. You decide to work harder on balancing your life's key accounts.
4. You decide to spend more time with friends and family.
5. You decide to learn a new language or skill.

Proactive reinvention is all about making a decision to change. The number of external factors that influence your decision are less than that related to reactive reinvention and more so to do with your own beliefs and desires to accomplish challenges.

3. Reflective Reinvention

Reflective reinvention is the deepest, and hardest, of the three forms of reinvention.

The first form, reactive reinvention, is heavily determined by external factors forcing your hand and thus resulting in action and change whether you like it or not.

The second form, proactive reinvention, is not so heavily determined by external factors, but more so a combination of both internal desires and external forces coming into play.

The final form of reinvention, that of reflective reinvention, stems predominantly from internal musings and thoughts. They include a desire and want, to change something significant about oneself, such as a specific personality trait or characteristic, ones approach to life going forward, and anything and everything in-between.

What Does This All Mean

In essence, what this all means is the following - when we decide to 'reinvent ourselves' we are simply adapting our lives to prepare for the future in the best way that we believe is possible.

Though not all reinvention is rational and effective, the process is a learning curve more than anything. It is a process of constant change and adaptation that we will continually experience throughout our lives.

Lastly, all three forms of reinvention can be beneficial, however, be sure to do more of the reflective and proactive reinventing rather than being susceptible to that of the reactive type.

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this article. I write for you - the reader, the student, the entrepreneur, the professional, the founder, the CEO.

Please like, comment and share this article with your friends and colleagues to help others benefit from the information shared on personal reinvention.

Wishing you a 2018 filled with everything you could ever desire, in abundance (so long as you work hard enough, and smart enough, for it)!

Best,

Afzal Hussein

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Disclaimer:

The views and comments expressed in this article are solely those of Afzal Hussein and are not representative of any organisation, charity or third party.