Your Personal Development Plan (PDP)
In last week’s post, we discussed 6 ways to start or continue taking action towards your Personal Development Plan (PDP). This week, we’re going to delve deeper into what YOUR personal development might look like………
Here are some FUN & FASCINATING Facts:
c This week, we’re going to delve deeper into what YOUR personal development might look like……… Basically, you’ve gotta do the inner work to get to the outer work (and outcomes).
WHAT IS PRACTICAL?
The BOTTOM LINE, friends, is that you have to be aware of and constantly and consistently develop YOURSELF (personal development)-----and it doesn’t necessarily have to be what others want or expect of you. For example, let’s say you love architecture and design and your immigrant parents want you to become a doctor, dentist, lawyer or engineer. This is not to insult your parents. My folks were immigrants too. Many came here to escape something back home and had to be ‘practical.’ These days, we’re fortunate enough to have the ability to do both, do what we’re interested in or love and be pragmatic, too. Even as an artist, you can make a living: selling online, in galleries, teaching courses, retreats, etc. I know all this because I’m also a painter and it’s amazing how many courses and classes and videos are online, from all over the world………a positive part of Covid. Also, you can be a dentist and still draw or write on the side (I did this, too). All these things are also ‘practical.’
Practical used to mean having a steady, good money-making career that you could count on. Things have changed. Nowadays, there are so few career pathways that can be predicted and followed, for the long term. So, our definition or idea of what’s practical is changing.
Now, you might say that being ‘practical’ or what some call ‘realistic’ is: developing the qualities, traits and skills you already have and have been given and letting them get bigger or go further…..
The point is that you want to be learning new skills and habits with subjects you’re fascinated by or at least somewhat interested in. In this way, you will learn faster, absorb more and will find delight and joy in this learning and growth, personally and professionally. When you focus and develop the subjects, ideas, habits, skills you’re interested in or by, you’ll find that you spend more time in the flow, in the zone, in joy. And when you’re in this state, you get much more done and in a much easier, less stressful and more enjoyable way. In my view, this is ‘practical’…..you get more accomplished, you feel good and you feel fulfilled.
This is not to say you don’t have to work and make money to cover food, room and board. There are just different ways to do it. It takes a paradigm shift in your thinking. We often hear phrases like: ‘you have to work hard to succeed..’ or ‘no pain, no gain.’ Let’s rethink and reframe these. Yes, you must work but you can work smarter, not necessarily harder, to be successful. You don’t have to have pain to accomplish or succeed. It may take work and energy, but why pain?
YOUR VERSION of Success:
It’s vital to define (write this down) what success looks like, feels like and is, to YOU. It may the present society’s version of material and financial wealth, professional power, etc. for some. It may mean more work/life balance for others: being good at their work and careers and perhaps, also being a good partner, parent, friend, caretaker………
If you, as a person, don’t align with the present society’s idea of success, you don’t have to live it. Why develop ideas, products, services and skills you don’t care about much, when you can match your idea of success with developing those skills, ideas, services, products, that will not only make you more effective, in all aspects of your life but will make you happy, too?
Write down YOUR version of success. This may change over the years. You will change too. Just keep writing it down (intentions) and keep it top of mind by repeating it and reminding yourself of it, with post-its, vision boards, as part of your morning and evening routines and more……
Keep re-evaluating your idea of success, so the ideas, skills, business, family and accomplishments you choose to develop further are in alignment with your mind, body, heart and spirit and you are in balance with yourself and your life…..
Once you know your definition of success, you can develop constantly, consistently and courageously, for the rest of your life.
As Albert Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
The truth is we all have to keep learning, growing and moving forward in our personal and professional lives, so we don’t move backwards and worse, stagnate.
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.” -James Allen
With smiles and love,
Dr Gigi
PS: Learn more about personal development, mental and mindset fitness, mind/body connection and more at my weekly blog posts and with your free guide. Just sign up @www.gigiarnaud.com and get your FREE clarity call.
It’s the new year and time for your personal/professional development, learning and growth to begin or continue……. so that you keep moving forward. As a Lifecoachnyc, Mindsetcoach and NYpersonaldevelopment coach, I can’t wait to be your ally, partner and coach on your journey to personal development, mind mastery, self-mastery and ultimately, to your best and most fulfilling life.
Change your Thoughts, Change your Life, Change your World