Personal Development: It’s Your Time!
We’ve heard these words plenty: personal development. We hear if from the corporate world, in addition to professional development. It’s all inter-related and intertwined. And this may be the perfect time to start or to continue on this road forward in your life…..
In this post, I’m referring to personal development in regards to you and your own self-development (ie: mental, emotional, physical, environmental & spiritual). Let’s say that personal development consists of steps and activities that develop a person’s capabilities, positive traits and potential and enhance their quality of life and the realization of their desires, dreams and aspirations.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT is not a one-time thing; it’s an over-your-entire-lifetime process and may include:
-Improving self-awareness
-Improving self-knowledge
-Building or renewing identity & self-esteem
-Developing strengths or talents
-Improving skills and/or learning new ones
-Improving a career
-Building employability
-Identifying or improving potential
-Enhancing lifestyle and/or the quality of life
-Improving health
-Improving wealth or social status
-Fulfilling aspirations
-Taking Action (Plan)
-Improving social relations/emotional intelligence
-Spiritual identity development and recognition
And more…….
Personal Development (PD) can also include developing other people’s skills and personalities, as a teacher, mentor, life coach nyc, mindset coach, etc.
It’s also a field of practice and research but for our purposes here, let’s talk about YOU and your unique personal development.
No matter your age or stage of life, you want to be constantly and consistently developing yourself. It’s important to have mental and emotional fitness, as well as physical and spiritual (your own form) fitness.
Here are some ideas that can help you along your way on your path to increased self-confidence, self-love and living your purpose, passions and priorities (your values)------YOUR personal development:
1)Develop a Growth Mindset (as opposed to a fixed mindset). This is the belief that you can always be growing and improving and has a big impact on your ability to reach your goals and live your most content, connected life. The newer science of Epigenetics confirms that we can continue to learn, grow and change, throughout our lives, even into older age. Let’s say thanks to neuroplasticity and the new developments in science and the brain. Fixed mindset[GA1] , on the other hand, assumes that you’re born with certain fixed mind traits that don’t change. Make sure you’re living with a Growth Mindset, for positive change and a flexible, flowing attitude towards life.
2)Create your own plan, taking into consideration the factors of: What, Why, When and How. What do you want to learn? What skills do you want to develop? Why do you want to learn or develop these skills? When will you build them? Now is always the best time to start. You can start by taking that small first step. How will you develop or build these skills, qualities, traits? Here is where your Action Plan comes in. It may be a good idea to get help in developing and implementing your personal development plan. It helps with accountability, momentum and encouragement!
3)Identify & Keep Returning to Your Values. You must identify and remain aware of your core personal values (your internal compass). Write them down. Keep them first and foremost in your plans and your life. If not, you may get lost on your path. External circumstances occur and you must stay in alignment with your values. Some values may include: kindness, curiosity, security, creativity, hard work, personal relationships. Define yours and keep to them!
Remember: values (priorities) are different for everyone. Only you can define them for yourself.
4)Define your own version of success. External pressures and ‘society’s’ definition of success may or may not work for you. You want to pursue the ‘right’ goals for you! To go and get where you want to go, you must know where you want to go…..
5)Re-evaluate your Personal Development Plan (PDP). Go toward the right skills, traits, learning and growing…….for you. Keep looking at your PDP, re-evaluate it (is it in alignment with me and my intentions and goals) and tweak it and make changes, if they’re needed.
6)Record your progress. Write things down-----out of your head and onto paper. This helps you clarify what’s working and what’s not and, if need be, to make the appropriate, effective and helpful changes.
Whether right now is the start of your journey toward personal development or you’re well on your way, remember to give yourself ‘a pat on the back’ for your awareness, curiosity and desire to improve yourself and your life. It takes courage, consistency and compassion……with big doses of self-compassion needed. I’m here to walk by your side and cheer you on…………
With smiles and love,
Dr Gigi
PS: If you’re ready to develop your unique and most effective plan for personal (and professional) development and success and in creating the necessary momentum for it, contact me @www.gigiarnaud.com and sign up for your free clarity (discovery) session. There’s nothing better for the new year than to give yourself the gift of personal/professional development. It moves you forward, as well as those around you…….
Gift Certificates available.
Change your Thoughts, Change your Life, Change your World