“We cannot become what we need to be, remaining what we are.” – Max Depree
It is not unusual to hear or see the terms personal development, personal growth, self-improvement or self-help. They have become extremely popular as more people become wary of their lives and desperate to find ways to eliminate stress and maintain a more optimistic outlook on life.
Although the terms mentioned above have only gained popularity fairly recently, personal development is not new at all.
Throughout our lives we are constantly developing, both consciously and unconsciously.
From the moment we are born, we are learning. Some things we are taught, some things we learn through observation and other things we master instinctively.
Most people in the western world receive a formal education which of course forms part of our personal development as children. However, this is just a small part of our personal growth. We often learn so much more through our personal experiences, challenges and triumphs.
We learn to navigate life and all that it throws at us as well as the skills to cope in certain situations and perform particular tasks.
As we get older however, we tend to slip into a comfort zone. Upon leaving formal education, it is common for people to settle into a career and spend a few years becoming proficient in their daily tasks; at which point, the requirement to continue learning diminishes.
In today’s fast-paced society, a person’s skills can quickly become outdated and with the job market as it is, this can leave a person feeling trapped and redundant – sometimes literally!
Of course as we get older, our lives change and we continue to grow and learn from life. Making a conscious decision to continue your personal development, not only gives you strategies for tackling life’s challenges, it also gives you options.
Some say life is a competition, or survival of the fittest, and continued personal development will allow you to contend, or at least keep up.
Five simple ways you can commit to your own personal development on a regular basis are:
- Reading
- Watching documentaries
- Enrolling onto a course
- Attending talks and workshops
- Networking with experts and people with similar interests
Initially investing in your continued growth can feel like a chore, especially if it’s been a while since you have consciously learnt anything.
Choosing what works best for you and picking an area that you already have an interest in should help you stay committed.
