What is Personal Development
She came to me and shared that she feels dissatisfied. She started with her job and the fact that she was offered another position, lower than her previous one There was a sense of self-pity, resentment, feelings of inferiority, and hopelessness. She shared that she doesn’t feel she’s using her potential, even though she has a wonderful family and a stable, good job by her loved ones’ standards, yet she felt she was meant for more …
Or, as he was approaching 50 He had started to reflect on what he had achieved in life; he looked at those around him and thought that he hadn’t reached the level he wanted in working with clients or in his work – life balance. He worked a lot, liked his job, but something was missing…
Does it sound familliar …
Let’s recall the well-known Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. When a person has secured their basic needs – food, water, shelter, and so on – growth motivations emerge. These are not essential for physical survival, but they provide what makes life worth living For example, the need for beauty, creativity, mastery, and so on. In the top two levels of the pyramid, we see the need for personal development
What is it ? This is a process of growth and expanding consciousness regarding oneself and the world, developing personal potential, and pursuing goals according to one’s vision of a happy life. It is the aspiration to gain recognition, respect, success, and high evaluation in line with our values, as well as achievements, knowledge, and self-actualization.
Where can we start? By answering the question: Who am I? What is important to me in life – our values, what brings us meaning, satisfaction, and joy in life… What drives our actions, gives meaning and fulfillment, what we believe in, how we think…
Awareness is the habit of making sense of what is happening within and around us, understanding our true needs and experiences, learning from experience, and developing based on it by taking steps grounded in conscious choices and goals.
To live consciously here and now, rather than in worries about the future or regrets about the past; to acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them; to learn from others’ perspectives and experiences; to broaden our horizon regarding the world around us.
Growth requires a lot of work, especially regarding doubts and fear.
When you step out of your comfort zone, you achieve your potential.
The benefits of personal development are related to seeing more opportunities, the ability to leave the comfort zone and take on new challenges, thus developing our potential and pursuing our goals. Flexibility in decision-making, better health and well-being, balance between personal and professional life with conscious priorities, and so on.
In this sense, “The only person you should compare yourself to is yourself.” – S. Freud
I am with you on your journey, become an active participant through your choices.
Nadejda Savova