Improve and Become Better

The definition of improve is this: to make or become better. We were recently asked to blog, vlog, or make an activity to demonstrate what improve means to a couple of classmates and myself and this is what we came up with. Now bear with me because I’m sure that my writing skills are rusty and this may be rough.

Core Values

At Hays Academy of Hair Design, with campuses in Hays and Salina Kansas, they have ten core values and we were assigned one. The core values are: faith, trust, integrity, love, compassion, family, inspire, work hard/have fun, improve, be humble/be grateful. The schools definition of improvement is to make something or someone better, to become better. What I discovered was that we all had the same idea as Hays Academy.

Improve Each Day

Improve each day at what you do. What does this mean to you? Stop and think about it and hold on to that thought. To us improving each day means taking the good and the bad criticism and applying it to your existing skills. In the very beginning of this journey we were taught to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Have you ever taken the time to reflect on each day and looked for ways you can improve? Are you growing from the lessons you have been taught? If the answer to those questions is no, take some time to reflect upon whether or not you are actually improving.

Improve Those Around You

Improve those around you. You may ask how in the world am I to do that??????? If you think about it for a minute, it’s not that hard to come up with at least one way to help improve those around you. While it may be easy to tear others down and claim that you’re only trying to help them be better, always be mindful and kind in your mannerism, body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. If your fellow classmate is struggling to remember to sweep their area, be kind in helping them grow, instead of saying, “You sure are lazy, you need to go clean up after yourself.” How would that make you feel? Pretty crappy if you’re asking me. Here is another approach for you to consider. “Hey I have noticed you are struggling to remember parts of our cleaning process and I struggled in the beginning too so I wanted to give you a couple of ways that helped me remember everything.” In all that you do BE KIND!!!!! You NEVER know what that other person is going through, you could make or break their day.

Learn/Grow

Learn/grow learn/grow. For every single thing that you learn you should grow. If you are learning and growing the only way that you can go is forward. Learning new things means growth and knowing that means you have a good sense of direction. If you are learning new things and have no growth you’re not doing something right.

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Get comfortable being uncomfortable. In just about every aspect of growth and improvement there will be a point where you are NOT going to be comfortable. To learn and improve you have to step outside your comfort zone and do things that may seem risky to you. For instance you probably thought to yourself how in the world am I going to ever afford to go to school or am I even made for this? How do you feel talking to random strangers? Probably not super comfortable right? You have to get comfortable being uncomfortable in order to succeed in every aspect of your life.

Be a Leader

Be a leader in CHANGE. In order to make change you have to be willing to lead the march in the things you have learned and improved upon so far. How are trends made? Think about this for just a second; one person started doing something and then another and another and BAM…. just like that we have a trend! Be willing to march to the beat of your own drum while others are cutting corners. Be willing to show even just yourself that you are THE TRENDSETTER!

Don’t Let Failure be an Option

Don’t let failure be an option at ANYTHING. From the time we were younger we were all probably told that quitting was for the weak or that quitting wasn’t an option. You have probably taken that to heart and applied it to every aspect of your life without even knowing it. Growth isn’t for weenies. Like many things, this obstacle in your life may seem as if it will never end or there will never be a way out. Just remember your why and cling to that as if it were your only hope. One day this will all be over and you will look back on this and be glad you stepped outside of your comfort zone and made a giant leap of faith. If you don’t remember anything cling to this for me; you are worthy of anything and everything that you aspire for. You are strong, brave, beautiful inside and out, and are worthy of all the riches of the world.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.” -Romans 12:2

A special thanks to Hays Academy students Lexie Chapman, Annie Gonzales and Trevor Berry for contributing to this blog!