There is nothing quite like
personal development. By choosing to develop oneself, you are saying, "I
assume full responsibility for every aspect of my life." While many may be
clothed in an adult body, there is a lack of personal responsibility noted
amongst humankind. You may be asking, "What are you talking about Monique?"
In its simplest form, too many adults behave like immature children. Quite
frankly, it is sad.
Adults throwing temper tantrums, being irresponsible, using
manipulation to gain control, bullying, lying, stealing, cheating...the list
goes on. But that is not the reason for this post. Quite frankly, it is one of
many catalysts that keeps me focused on leading a happy, healthy, and
purposeful life. I would like to share 3 important tips on engaging in personal
development that will change your life forever.
Tip #1
Personal development begins and ends with YOU!This is the most powerful tip in my arsenal. Once you adopt this mindset, the real magic begins. I grew up as a people pleaser, hoping that approval will somehow get me into heaven (I don't know what I was thinking). People pleasing meant that I became prisoner to other people's expectations and limitations. Are you a people pleaser? A good way to figure this out is to look at the profession you chose.
·
Are you a
caretaker?
·
Low paid,
unappreciated employee?
·
Unhappy in
your current position but feel stuck for some reason?
Another way to examine if you are a people pleaser is to look at
the type of people you are surrounded by.
·
Are they
needy?
·
Toxic?
·
Unappreciative?
·
Do you feel
like you are being taken advantage of?
If you answered YES to the questions above, then it is quite
possible you are a people pleaser. If this is the case, I have both good and
bad news for you. The good news is you can take control of your life and make
an exchange for a happy, healthy, purposeful life. The bad news is you will
lose friends along the way. This is a part of personal development, recognizing
what is honorable for you and ridding yourself of those people and behaviors
that are dishonorable. The bottom line is…personal development begins and ends
with you. You have more authority than you know by assuming responsibility for
yourself.
Tip #2
Personal development requires discipline.Yep, I said the D word. Everyone wants to take the fastest route to success. But most people lack the discipline that is necessary to be successful. As a mother of 8, I recently completed a medical degree. This was the result of discipline. Discipline to drive to and from class on snow covered roads, commuting 2-4 hours each way even when I didn't feel like it. Discipline to turn down invitations to social gatherings even when I really wanted to go. The discipline that was required for me to study, spend countless hours in clinic, and still maintain my personal and professional lives are unheard of.
·
Do you have
discipline?
·
What goals
have you set out to accomplish years ago that is still hanging in the wind?
·
Are you in need
of discipline?
I will share in a later post how to
become more discipline. But for now, let this marinate: Personal development
requires discipline.
Tip #3
You have access to everything needed to start your journey right
now.There is a myriad of resources available for you to begin your personal development journey today. There are tons of courses, coaches, books, and other resources available for you to gather useful information and skills. As mentioned earlier, this process begins and ends with you.
For those who are ready to start taking full responsibility for
your life, respond 'I'm Ready' below.
For those already on their personal development journey, what has
your journey been like? What have you learned along the way? Share your thoughts
and feelings about making the choice to grow and develop below.
Remember personal development is a process of assuming full responsibility
for your life. If you are ready to get more acquainted with yourself and assume
full responsibility for every area of your life, then it is time to begin your
personal development journey.
If you found this useful, feel free
to share it with others.
Dr. Monique Walker
