Personal Development -Thoughts and Considerations

(Excerpt from  "Balance - A Practical Handbook for Life's Difficult Moments" by Suzie Doscher  to be published Spring 2014)

First of all consider:
What would make the biggest difference right now?

• Could it be managing my time better so I am not always rushing or running late?
• Learning how to express myself more clearly to be  better understood? 
• Fed up with feeling uncomfortable in social situations or within my team at work?
• Would having a better attitude help?
• Maybe it is discovering what really would make me feel good about my life?
• etc.

Before embarking on this path, please remember to set aside a period of time, as often as possible to be alone to clear your thoughts and relax. A refreshed mind is essential to inner peace and clarity. There is no balance when there is stress. This contradicts calmness, serenity and happiness.  To be able to take care of others the best place to start is by learning how to take care of yourself.
 
The only way to reach the top of a ladder is to take it step by step. The same is true of Personal Development. With every step the view will change. You will experience life differently. There is no way of knowing exactly what it will be like until you have done this. Life and all it encompasses change all the time, sometimes daily. Being patient and equally important flexibility is vital to your success.
 
Were you designing a plan for your Personal Development, the following points would be central for you to consider:

• It is never too late to grow and develop as a person.
• Think of 'where' you are now and  imagine how you would like your life to be.
• What are your personal values? Identifying these is a stepping-stone to understanding how to establish an achievable plan for personal development. Focusing on areas which do not matter will make it  impossible to be motivated to achieve your goals. Concentrate rather on aspects of your life that align with your core personal values. 
• Be Realistic in your expectations.
• Accept that some choices might be the wrong ones. That is alright. You are likely to make a better one next time. “Failures” are opportunities to learn. They tell you more about your weaknesses and strengths. Measure progress against where you were before.
• Learn how to pay attention to what your inner voice is telling you. This is an essential skill in improving yourself as a person.
• If you feel you are continually unable to reach your goals, reassess them. Find out if they are realistic and truly what you want. Perhaps there is an obstacle in the way, which first needs to be cleared. You might find you are making simple mistakes such as not spending enough time on your path or not getting the right information.
• Determine what is, or has been, stopping you so far. Imagine how you wish life to be once you are a little further up the ladder of personal development. What has to be different? Where can you make compromises?
• Know that taking these steps towards improving the quality of your life is a sign of courage and strength, not weakness.

This path might offer challenges along the way, however the changes it brings to the quality of your day to day life, at home and at work, will be invaluable. 

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