Personal Development Guide

Photo credit: Jef Menguin | Personal Development 

There are days when I wake up and just go about my daily life. I make coffee and then sit down at the computer for the day's work. I'm used to exercising, walking the dogs, cooking dinner. So read, watch a show, go to bed. The next day? Wake up and start over.

Especially at the height of the pandemic, it feels like a cruel monotony. Our lives seemed stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Dreams, goals and ambitions seem buried in thick molasses or honey at the back of our brains. And even as we navigate this new normal, that "stuck" feeling can get stuck within us.

What is Personal Development?

Personal development is about looking inward and focusing on opportunities for improvement. Self-development increases self-confidence, self-esteem, increases skills, fulfills aspirations.

Personality development is more than just career development or self-development. It covers every aspect of your life where you would like to see personal growth and does not discriminate where it occurs. 

Five Areas of Personal Development

When it comes to personal development, it's hard not to relate to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, basic needs must be met in order to reach one's full potential. In other words. Achieving self-actualization means achieving the highest level of self-awareness, self-confidence, self-development and self-actualization.

Mental

Training the brain and staying mentally fit is essential for personal development. At Better Up, this is done in a number of ways: coaching, learning opportunities and career development. For example, I now take a creative writing class to keep my creative mental muscles strong. (And Better Up foots the bill with our stipend.) 

Mental development can take the form of seminars, training sessions or just rest. Rest is just as important (if not more so) than mental exercise. In addition to improving mental performance, resilience, innovation and self-confidence also improve.

Social Networks

Social ties and relationships are also essential for any personal development. After all, self-improvement is not a solitary pursuit. Humans are social creatures and we need this connection to learn and grow. And through social relationships we learn important skills. Such as communication skills, problem solving, relationship building and the ability to receive (and give) feedback. We also learn from the people around us and their experiences.

Humorous

Personal growth and development, whether you are religious or not, can take place in spirituality. It is important to realize that religion and spirituality are not synonymous. Not even close. Spirituality is about investing in a deeper understanding of yourself in the world around you. It helps you get to know yourself and discover your values.

Emotional

Emotional personality development often goes hand in hand with emotional intelligence. Simply put, emotional intelligence is the ability to understand feelings. Going beyond feelings, it is about understanding how those feelings shape our thoughts and actions. 

Any number of experiences are suitable for emotional self-development. And these experiences can help you in your quest for self-improvement.

Physical

A healthy body nourishes a healthy mind. There is an inseparable connection between physical, mental and emotional well-being. This aspect of personal development focuses on physical health, such as diet, sleep, exercise, and exercise. 

When your physical self is nourished, your spirit is likely to reap these benefits as well. Think about how you can build this area of ​​personal development and notice how your body and mind feel.