Photo Courtesy of paul (dex) busy @ work (flickr)
A few months ago I discovered a blog that has been slowly but surely changing the way I think about my life. The blog is Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina. He also has a book by the same name, which I am now currently reading. His blog is devoted to personal growth, conscious living, and rising above his circumstances to achieve true enlightenment. He is radical and odd at times, but he always makes me think. His website has more than 700 free posts that cover dozens of topics and most of them have very practical strategies for living a more conscious life. It is because of his blog that I created my own statement of purpose (my current version is posted on the About Us page). This is an evolving mission statement of sorts that clearly defines the kind of life I strive to live every day. Though I have read other books and blogs about personal development, Steve Pavlina takes it to a new level that has resonated with me recently in a profound way. I now take personal development very seriously and I have reaffirmed my commitment to personal growth.
Personal development is not self-help. It’s not Oprah’s book club and it’s not new age hypnosis that requires you to be a vegan and live in the mountains. Personal development is the exploration of you. It is a method of self-discovery that challenges you to become more self-aware, to establish your identity, to enhance the quality of your life and your relationships with others, to define and execute goal-setting plans that fulfill your dreams, and it is a way to seek truth in your own existence.
If this is the first time you’ve ever heard personal development described in detail, it may sound like a load of BS. That’s what I thought when I was first exposed to it. It takes a very open mind to understand the full potential that personal development can have in your life. I’ve only recently begun the process and it has been life altering. It’s not easy. In fact, if you take it as seriously as Steve Pavlina, Tony Robbins, or other experts in this field, it can be very painful and extremely challenging.
What does personal development look like?
Growth is unique. Growth is personal. What you do will probably look different than others’ techniques and growth strategies. For me, personal development means running marathons, building businesses, giving to charity, loving my wife, taking care of my dog, spending time with my family, and reading and writing about my current goals and passions. Take a good hard look at your life and begin to recognize what you could do to enhance your day, your week, or even the rest of your life.
How can I get started?
Start absorbing. Begin consuming as much content on personal development and personal growth as you can. Read blogs, read books, listen to audio programs, and attend seminars. Then, once you feel like you have a good handle on what it is, start to implement changes in your life quickly. The first thing I recommend is to start a journal and/or blog where you feel comfortable to share your life in writing. I find writing to be very therapeutic and extremely helpful with my own struggles in life. I use my blog posts as a stress reliever and venting mechanism to let the world know how I feel on any given topic. I do my best not to hold back anything and to always focus on being authentic and truthful. This process allows me to stay centered on the principles I live by and to honor my own commitments to myself and others.
If you’re thinking that personal development sounds extremely self-centered and selfish, you’re right. In the beginning, this process will require you to think a lot about you. However, as you progress through the levels of consciousness you will begin to see how the best way to help others is to first help yourself. Imagine a doctor who never went to medical school. How much help could he really be? Every surgeon must spend years focusing on themselves, their knowledge, their skills, and their passion before they ever set foot in an operating room.
Personal development is one of the greatest challenges you will face as you begin to conquer your own life after college. Unfortunately, it will only get harder as you get older. The tendency is for life to naturally get busier and for priorities to get skewed. If personal development is important to you, make it important. Make it a priority. Make it happen, and make it happen often. Your own growth is in your hands. You have the power to change your life and you should if you don’t like where you are, or if you simply want to see improvement.
Recommending Reading
Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
Your Road Map for Success by John C. Maxwell
Jeff Sanders’ Statement of Purpose
To live consciously and with great intention;
To ambitiously pursue my passions;
To break through barriers in search of truth and freedom;
To embrace challenges with patience and wisdom;
To share faith, give hope, and spread love;
To positively influence and inspire others; and
To joyfully and courageously explore my limitless potential.
The Clueless Graduate,
Jeff Sanders
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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