Self Development?
7 Good Reasons!

Self Development? 7 Good Reasons!

I f you have been strolling around this website
you probably know who I am.
If not, I’ll give you a brief version…

I was a happy kid. A leader. Maybe when you are seven they call it stubborn and pushy, but at least I thought of myself as a leader. Life was great and possibilities where endless! I knew for sure I was going to conquer the world!

But then reality kicked in when my parents divorced. I was 12 and I’ve never seen my father since.

I spent my life in denial first. I was so ashamed…

 
My loss was so painful that I thought that not talking about it at all would make it go away. But this caught up with me and then came anger and protest. And puberty. Not a good combination… I didn’t fall completely of the grid though, and after high school I got a job that paid me well. A job that I didn’t particularly like but hey, it paid good money. I got stuck in the ratrace and was living life in a negative attitude.

In 2008 I lost that job and got self employed, working together with the love of my live Marcel in his business. And I loved that! Absolutely definitely struggeling, but loved it [still do]. It was in that time that I read somewhere ‘If you realize how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought again’. And I got fascinated by that.

I turned my life around and started focussing on the positive. I started a journey of personal development. One of the results from that is the launch of this website in January 2013, where I explore the subject of [my] personal development even more. Because I think personal development is the issue! The more we grow physically, mentally and emotionally, the more we become unique individuals plotting our way in this world and the more we make life significant for ourselves and for others.

What is personal development? Personal development is ‘the deliberate growth or development of an individual to bring out their potential and capabilities. Making them more aware of their inner feelings and belief systems, to become a more conscious, whole and healthy human being’.

And why is personal development so important? Why does it make you life so much better, richer? I give you seven good reasons!

 
#1
It makes you understand yourself better

We tend to underestimate the importance of knowing ourselves. Many of us go through each day reacting to events. Just getting by rather than making conscious choices based on who we are and what we want. When you don’t know where you are headed it’s hard to set goals, get motivated and determine the best course of action. Be aware of your strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Observe your moods, reactions and responses to what is happening around you. Become aware of how these moods and emotions affect your state of mind. Examine how you interact with others and observe how your environment affects you. Turn inward and explore!

 
#2
It helps you to find your life’s purpose

Are you trapped within a life that’s unfulfilling or feels out of synch with your true purpose for being? Maybe you feel that there’s a true purpose to your life but you haven’t found or discovered it yet. You’ve heard stories from writers or musicians who have felt their calling their entire lives. The Mozarts of the world who have pursued their passions from the moment they were out of the womb. Deep down you wish you also had this ‘knowing’ to pull you forward. And you do! All it takes is a little digging and turning inward. Diving into the deeper essences of who you are.

 
#3
It assists you in creating your goals

Knowing and understanding yourself better and knowing your life’s purpose leads to better decision making. Setting and reaching appropriate goals and living more productively altogether. Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality. Setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. Dream about the big picture. Don’t hold yourself back and dream big! Bigger! Than break that picture down in smaller and more specific goals. Make each goal a positive statement. Set priorities. Keep track of your progress and celebrate your successes!

 
#4
It guides you in managing your time effectively

Time. You can invest it, spend it and waste it. By following your life’s purpose and setting your goals you know precisely what you want to achieve. You know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You’ll also quickly spot the distractions that can, so easily, lead you astray. Time management enables you to improve and be more productive and fulfilled. Time management starts with the commitment to change. The key to successful time management is planning and then protecting that planned time [with you life!]. This may involve re-conditioning your environment, and particularly re-conditioning the expectations of others.

 
#5
It enhances your ability to handle stress

When you understand yourself better you’ll realize that you, and only you, are responsible for your own life. And that you are the one that is fully in control of you own life. That simple realization, that you’re in control of your life, is the foundation of all stress management. Managing stress is all about taking charge of: your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, and the way you deal with problems. Grow yourself so that you are bigger than your problems!

 
#6
It teaches you to build better relationships

Have you ever felt like you always attract a certain type of person? The same kinds of people seem to present themselves to you all the time. They may have different faces and different names, but in the end the same themes are always there. And when they come, do you think that you need to change them, you need to fix them? But [newsflash!] it’s not about fixing them, it is all about fixing you. The better you understand yourself the better you understand others and the more your relationships will flourish. Creating a loving and accepting relationship with yourself first, allows you to look deeper into what you believe about yourself. Relationships are like mirrors. When you have a loving relationship with yourself, the reflection will always be the strong, healthy, loving relationships you deserve.

 
#7
It allows you to live a balanced lifestyle

‘The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us.
If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise [wo]man.’ ~Euripides

A balanced lifestyle is the corner stone of your well-being. It encompasses elements such as developing and maintaining good physical health and fitness, maintaining a good level of energy and vitality, having the ability to express your creativity, enjoying emotional and psychological stability, entertaining harmonious relationships, feeling and expressing your love toward people and life, acquiring effective stress management strategies and coping skills as well as developing a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Recognize anything that has been said before?

 
The seven reasons above why self-development is important are by far not all. Personal development helps you to grow and achieve. It also supports you in managing your finances more wisely. It provides an opportunity to take care of your health. It…

 
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Why do you think personal development is important?
How did developing yourself improve your life?
Please do and leave a comment below!
Thank you.

Mirjam Stoffels

Founder of seven2success, guest blogger at TEDx, Project Eve and 365 dagen succesvol. In my mission to make seven2success the biggest platform of knowledge and inspiration for women, by women, I want to inspire you with our content! Check us out on Facebook and Twitter! I’d love to connect! 
And do you want to inspire other women? Write for us!

 
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