Being Happy is a Very Personal Thing It Has Nothing to Do with Anyone Else.

by Suzie Doscher

Imagine turning 18, or whatever age the officials deem is the age of entering adulthood, and staying exactly as you were then. Nothing really changes; your behaviour, beliefs, wisdom, knowledge etc. remain that of an 18 year old. Believing we no longer change or grow once we have reached 'maturity' is one way to look at life. Seems more like a nightmare to me...

The other way of looking at life is that we never stop growing, developing and learning, which of course means changing. In my opinion this is the healthier option. I would hate to still be approaching life and its lessons as the 18 years old Suzie. With each step you take on the path of personal growth things will change therefore you will experience life differently. Life and all it encompasses changes all the time, sometimes almost daily. It is exciting and rewarding to grow, develop and change.

Here are some steps to consider on the road of personal development:

1. Know yourself. If you do not already know who you are, find out.
2. Change what you do not like; accept what you cannot change.
3. If you do not know what makes you feel fulfilled figure it out.
4. Filter through the people in your life, lose the "Energy Vampires", keep the people that allow you to be yourself and the ones that energize you.
5. Be true to yourself, your integrity and your personal code of ethics.
6. Remember, all life lessons are here to teach you something. Sometimes it is to find out what you do not want, or no longer want.
7. Never be afraid to ask for support, it makes you stronger.
8. It is never too late to grow and develop as a person.
9. Above all, know and understand that life can be improved, if only with the smallest of steps, but one by one you will get to where you want to be.

"Your vision will become clear, only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." Carl Jung