Improvement on any and every level comes from inner work. The challenge is to develop your inner world (emotional intelligence, mental strength) as much if not more than the external world.

So many people "get bored" and only know how to rely on external stimulation. These people find it difficult to be alone with themselves for extended periods of time. I have developed my inner world so much that I haven't experienced this feeling of boredom since I was a child. When another adult tells me their bored, I laugh. Like, there's nothing going on in your mind?