Who Needs Self Development?

By Donna Doyon

Everyone! Because no one is perfect, we can all benefit from a little self-assessment and development. There is always room for improvement. The great thing about self-development is that we get to pick and choose the areas we want to improve.

We may want to work on our physical bodies. While we can`t expect to achieve "a perfect body" (whatever that is!), most of us could use a little more physical activity in our lives. We can eat healthier. We can drink more water. We can cut down on our sugar, caffeine or fat intake. By making some small changes in our lives, we can reap long term benefits.

We may want to change some aspect of our behavior that is affecting our family or career. We may spend too much time gossiping, and not enough time listening. We may spend too much time working and not enough time playing. We may be whining or bragging when we should be thankful. We may be telling instead of showing.

By becoming aware of the things we`d like to change, we can begin to make those changes a reality. We may fall back into old patterns. We may struggle with the response we receive from those around us as they notice the changes. They may be skeptical or suspicious of our new behavior. But if it is for a greater good, keep up with it. We can show them that we are serious about improving ourselves.

The first step is awareness. Become aware of the things in your past that have influenced your present and will shape your future unless you change them. This is not a time to place blame or find excuses. This is a time to examine your basic belief structure.

At every turn, ask yourself why you feel the way you do. Is there a reason, or have you accepted the beliefs of friends or family as your own without question?

Honesty is vital! You must be totally honest with yourself. The answer "I don’t know" doesn’t work, You know the answers, you just may not like them. If you aren’t ready to face something yet, admit it.

Once you’ve become aware of who you are right now, you can determine what type of person you want to be in the future. Notice I said future! We cannot go back and undo the past. You can only start a new day and decide that you want to be different. Mark the turning point on your calendar so when someone says, "You used to be..." you can reply, "Yes. I used to be. But on April 1,2000 I decided to change. And I don’t act that way anymore."

How Do You Start?
You start by making choices. Daily existence is about choices. In the beginning, man and woman had free choice. We blew it from the start. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

There are always choices (some of them more difficult to make or act on than others). Sometimes the easy way out leads to the most difficult circumstances.

Your decision to improve yourself (or your situation) is for you to make. Likewise, no one else can make the changes in your life that are needed.