Increase Your Size in 2025

It's January 2025, and like many of us, you are off to a great start with your New Year's resolution. Most resolutions involve something we give up or lose, such as dropping pounds. However, would anyone be daring enough to increase your size this year? Sounds crazy, right? But it's not what you are thinking. No need to panic. It involves something much more beneficial than making gains physically. Dare to make 2025 a year of increasing your size in personal growth. Build yourself this year so you can help build others. What can we improve or build this year that will make a lasting impact?

Soft Skills

Soft skills are essential skills comprised of character and personality traits. They range from time management, empathetic listening, communication, decision-making, adaptability, critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity, to name a few. Evaluate which of your soft skills need improvement. Seek the feedback of family and friends or take a test to show areas of strengths and weaknesses. Read books and listen to podcasts on your topic of growth. Attend a workshop or seek mentorship.

Being involved in team environments, receiving constructive criticism, getting out of your comfort zone, and incorporating self-reflection will scaffold soft skill growth. Developing and enhancing soft skills will improve your persona and make you a valuable employee, spouse, parent, grandparent, and friend.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are technical abilities and skill sets acquired through training, education, and experience. Employers seek hard skill sets that are field-specific. Examples include plumbing, flooring, nursing, marketing, data analysis, and budgeting. You may grow in a hard skill that is relatable to your profession or learn a new hard skill to become eligible and attractive to another field. This is called cross-training and professional development.

You can learn a foreign language, start running in local races, begin playing a musical instrument, learn counseling techniques, or improve your photography skills. Reflect on an area you would like to develop or advance. Take classes, seek certification, hire a trainer or tutor, and learn something new. It will reap professional and personal dividends.

Spirituality

Spirituality is essential because it affects every aspect of our lives. It helps to answer the questions of who we are and what our purpose is. It allows us to grow in faith, compassion, joy, forgiveness, resilience, and hope. Spirituality gives us wisdom that transcends scholarship and fosters peace beyond understanding. Seek out a discipleship class or group from a faith-based organization with an equal interest in growth and community.

Outreach

What good is personal growth if it can not be implemented to help others? Outreach skills include building and maintaining relationships, noticing needs, and seeking ways to fill them. Initiate a way to use your talents and abilities— partner with others for a like-minded cause.

Our community is waiting for someone like you to invest in them. Become a tutor, mentor, or volunteer in a local nonprofit. Make sure to make a difference before this year goes by.

The New Year is here. This could be your year to increase who you are substantially and meaningfully. Seek ways to grow in soft and hard skills, spirituality, and outreach. You will never be the same, nor will the people around you.