Personal development has become a bit of a buzzword in the professional world. Questions like “What do you do to encourage personal development in your life?” or “What does personal development mean to you?” are not uncommon to hear from your boss, manager or HR department. But what does personal development actually mean, and how does it apply to you?
Everything you need to know about personal development rests in its name. Personal: it’s about you and nobody else. It’s about knowing yourself inside and out, taking a good hard look at your weaknesses and your strengths and identifying areas for improvement. Development: it’s about moving forwards, making positive changes and evolving as a human being.
Personal development can be as simple as resolving to get up ten minutes earlier in the morning, or it can mean laying out a three-year plan for your career and personal life, with goals built in along the way. It all depends where you’re at in your life; If you are ready to make a big commitment, or if you are at a stage where it’s just baby steps. Both stages are equally valid, and to reach the commitment stage, you need to take some baby steps first!
Wherever you are at in your life, the only thing you really need for personal development is a desire to do better. That desire to do better will serve you well because the benefits of personal development are countless. They are innate to the term!
Here are a few reasons why personal development is so important:
1. SELF-AWARENESS
Self-awareness is the first step on anyone’s personal development journey. To understand how to improve, you first have to become intimately acquainted with your weaknesses. You have to get to know yourself — your values, your beliefs and what it is you really want to accomplish. Only then will you be able to pinpoint areas of improvement and put a plan into action to evolve.
2. CONFIDENCE
Understanding who you are, where your strengths lie and where you could stand to improve, will help you feel confident in everyday situations. You won’t be as tempted to make promises you can’t keep, and you’ll also know when to ask for help. You will also feel more in control of your life which contributes to confidence. Every time you learn some new skill or improve on some weakness, you will gain confidence.
3. STRENGTHS
Personal development isn’t just about working on your weaknesses. It’s also about developing your strengths. By taking the time to nurture your existing skillset, you can go from good at something to exceptional at it. Reaching your full potential means paying attention to every aspect of your self — not just the stuff you aren’t good at!
Personal development is a life-long process. It doesn’t happen overnight, and if you are truly committed to the concept, you will never truly be “done” either. It’s about taking steps to improve yourself. Big steps or baby steps — it’s forward-momentum that counts.
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