What's The Difference Between Self Improvement And Self Growth?

We live in a culture obsessed with becoming better and doing more. 

Better bodies, systems, routines - a never-ending project of fixing who we already are.

And, oh my goodness, me too!  I have also been a part of this self improvement culture. You only need to take a look at the books on my bookshelf. LOL I’m a lifelong learner and student- curiosity is in my bones, but over the years I too have tried many of the strategies, 6 step frameworks and other ways to try to “improve” myself.

  I have lived it but didn’t realise I was doing it, because it’s so normalised.

To be honest it’s really only over the last 4 or 5 years, with a very intentional stepping away from a lot of the messaging on social media, that I have realised there is a big difference between self improvement and self growth. So, I thought I would share my thoughts and a photo of a diagram I drew because my neurodivergent brain likes to see things visually. Mind mapping is one of the most effective ways a neurodivergent brain can organise and make meaning of complex ideas - I also work a lot with a whiteboard.

Self improvement loops us into optimisation and hustle. 

It speaks the language of steps, formulas, discipline, mastery and metrics.

It is often image driven and rewards the facade, achievements and goals over the development of our inner life.

I would say it is quite a masculine energy and keeps us in a state of rushing and urgency (without even realising it).

All of these tools, can of course, be helpful but they can also keep us on the treadmill of “never enoughness”.

Self growth is quieter, and is the work of self reflection and self inquiry.  

It helps us to expand our window of tolerance and deepen our capacity for presence and connection.

It asks us to slow down. 

To feel into our lives.

And build a fuller, more grounded sense of wholeness.

It reminds us that how we live today matters - our happiness is not in the future or the next holiday or when we lose weight or get a new job.

I have added the hand written list of differences below ( hopefully you can read my writing ). 

If nothing else, I hope this helps you discern the difference between striving for a better you and growing into your most authentic and inspired self. I hope it can support you in a way that feels useful in some small way.