Life is a continuous journey of personal development. Whether you’re a leader, an entrepreneur, or an employee, growth will always be a part of your life. Personal development taps into all the aspects of your current being and pushes you to evolve into better versions of yourself.
This is a quote from a prayer that stayed with me through my journey of self-development. It has guided me to take on the challenges for personal growth.
The courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know one from the other (Source)
Why is Personal Development Important?
As a leader, you are expected to empower your followers to be better at what they do and help them achieve the organization’s and their personal goals.
However, you cannot give what you don’t have.
So in order to influence the people around you, you must first develop yourself from within.
Most of the time, people get stuck in a stage of their lives where they are completely comfortable and satisfied with what they have. But there’s a little voice in the back of their head or heart that calls them to be more, to exit the comfort zone. As terrifying as it can be. It’s perfectly normal!
That voice is your potential calling out to be reached.
Personal development is the key to answering that call.
Continuous learning is part of your journey as a person and part of that learning is change. Developing yourself proactively gives you control over how that change affects your being.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What causes personal growth?
- Change pushes you to grow in more ways than one. change can come slowly or surprise you instantly. You are in control of how this change affects you as a person.
- What is the most important factor in personal development?
- Awareness is the first step towards personal development. Knowing where you currently stand gives you an idea on which parts of your being you would want to develop.
- What are personal development goals?
- These are goals you set to improve aspects of being. This involves self-awareness and the steps you are to take to achieve those objectives. It can range from your character, mindset, capabilities, knowledge and more. It all depends on what you want to develop.
Stages of Personal Development
Awareness
Start with identifying where you currently are and assessing your being as a whole. Describe yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially. It is important to be your authentic self in this stage so that you get a clear view of what needs to change.
This is also the stage where you set your goals. Remember that you are in control so you can decide on the things you want to change. These goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely)
Acceptance
In this stage, you must accept what you currently are. It’s where self-compassion and self-love come in. It may be difficult, especially for accomplished people, to accept that there are things that you are not good at. This stage is about loving and accepting yourself; the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Here is the opportunity to let go of doubts, guilt, and anger in order to fulfil this stage of personal development. These feelings will only hold you back in achieving your goals. Think of it as weights that you carry. Once you let go of these emotions, you will be able to see your authentic self.
Accountability
Once you see your authentic self, developing the aspects that you want to change becomes your responsibility. Although change is inevitable, you are in control of your life and how those changes affect you. You will now proactively consider the effects of the actions you make and how it’ll help you in reaching your set goals.
This stage calls for your self-control. Regularly ask yourself if what you’re doing is headed towards your personal goals. Also, remember to apply self-compassion. You are a human being that sometimes has lapses. That’s totally fine as long as you focus on your goals at the end of the day.
Application
Once you have prepared yourself for change, it’s time to practice what you preach. Take it one day at a time and don’t rush things. This part of personal development is filled with temptation to give up, give in, and let go. Fight those temptations with your purpose.
This is where most people get stuck. Again, remember that you are in control. Go back to your goals, the reason why you wanted to develop yourself. Motivate yourself to strive and thrive towards your personal development goals.
Assessment
Once you have reached your personal development goals, look at your journey from where you were and where you are after going through the past four stages. Give yourself some compassion by celebrating this win. Look at your authentic self and see that it’s better than yesterday’s you.
