Self-Development: The Hardest and Easiest Thing You’ll Ever Do

Self-development is not as easy as you think, yet it’s also easier than you imagine. The truth is, we always have a choice in life—but too often, our choices are shaped by what others expect from us rather than what we truly want.

My Story: From School Dropout to Lifelong Learner

I never really learned in school. By the time I was in 7th grade, I was expelled, and that was the end of my formal education. My younger brother and I were just a year and a half apart, yet while he moved forward, I was pushed out. I left with nothing but resentment for my teachers.

But learning? That was never the problem—I just had a different way of doing it. Unfortunately, no one around me understood that. So, I started teaching myself.

The day after I left school, I decided to start something on my own. With my father’s help, I bought fruits from a wholesale market and began selling them door-to-door at a lower price than the stores. Even with a 10-15% discount, I made money. I kept improving, learning how to negotiate, how to handle rejection, and how to sell. I failed many times, but I never stopped developing myself. And today, here I am—writing this blog to share my journey.

Life is Always Changing—Are You?

Life never moves in a straight line. Sometimes, it takes sharp turns that leave us feeling lost or unhappy. But these moments of discomfort can wake us up. The question is: How often do we stay aware of them? How often do we actually learn from our mistakes? How often do we regret but do nothing about it?

Life moves forward, and our job is to move with it. Take care of yourself first, so you can help others later.

One of the most powerful lessons I learned was during my job caring for the elderly. I was with them in their final days, forming friendships that, sadly, were always short-lived.

One of my closest friends there had just turned 99. The day before he passed, I sat beside him, looked into his eyes, and said, “Thank you for being my friend. If we don’t meet tomorrow, we will meet again somewhere else.” He held my hand, looked at me, and smiled—a smile I still remember to this day. The next morning, when I arrived at work, his room was empty. That smile was his last gift to me.

Which Direction is the Right One?

The only person who can answer that question is you.

Every time you change direction, new tools and new people will appear to help you.

That’s how self-development works—it’s a process of learning, unlearning, and adapting. How much you grow depends on how badly you want it.

My Journey of Self-Development

Three years ago, I was in a dark place. Not knowing how to read or write properly made things worse. Since I hadn’t learned much in school, I had to start from scratch.

I began listening to old podcasts by Alan Watts, who taught me not to be afraid. He led me to Zen Therapy, a book that was hard to understand, but I took one powerful lesson from it: close your eyes, and you’ll see every person you remember in your mind. That helped me feel less alone.

Then I discovered Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, which taught me how to use my thoughts to shape my future. That book sparked a new journey—one of reading, listening, and writing. To this day, I continue to learn and grow.

Key Takeaways for Your Own Growth

1. Be open to learning—always. Try new things, whether it’s a sport, a community, or a book.

2. Keep your self-development system active. Your mind and body are always learning—make sure they’re learning the right things.

3. Be a good student of life. If you’ve developed the skill of learning through school, college, or experience, keep sharpening it.

Thank you for reading my blog. If this resonates with you, please share it with others—because someone out there, just like me, is searching for something like this.

Tariq Khan

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