From the beginning, your development has been instrumental to your growth and to what you’ve accomplished. As a newborn, brain function was developing as well as your ability to think. Then as you grew to be an infant, your hand eye coordination was in development. The growth and advancement of the bones and muscles let you to walk when you were a toddler. The process continued as you developed social skills and learned more from the time you started school.

This is normal. If we didn’t progress in this manner, we’d be considered emotionally or physically handicapped. To develop means that you’re alive. It’s a fact that all living things are growing; humans, animals, plants, fish, even the tiniest one-celled amoeba. In order to grow, we must develop.

From this standpoint, you can see that we are wired to grow and progress. Have you ever wondered what the best means to happiness and fulfillment are? Our answer is: continued growth and development. All it takes is progress. It doesn’t always look pretty, and it certainly doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be “growth.”

Let’s say you’re 40 lbs. overweight. You’re unhappy with being fat, but you’re not doing anything about. Then you decide to take matters into your own hands, and you start to exercise, and the pounds begin to melt away. You’re feeling happy; proud that you’re taking action. Now, think about it. As you consistently take action, do your feelings intensify? Suddenly, you’re down 25 pounds in 3 months! You’re doing the “happy dance!” Feeling good?

What are you so happy about? You’ve still got a muffin-top!

Ah! But you made progress towards your goal, didn’t you? You took committed action, be happy! Celebrate! You are growing (okay, you’re shrinking, but let’s not split hairs, here.) You are living your life! Congratulations!

By the time adulthood sets in, something happens. A shift. We have a fixed belief that our ability for mental development slows. Once we’re out of school, we’re done! We’ve graduated, and we’re through learning. Is that true for you? Do you really believe that when you finish with school, you’re required learning ends? Maybe that’s why millions of people are unfulfilled in their lives. They’ve stopped growing and learning. The whole concept of not learning and growing is counter to the construct of life itself.

In order to keep the spotlight off ourselves for NOT growing, it’s common to make fun of the “woo woo,” “weird,” and “unusual” programs that others pursue. Someone’s always talking about a new book, lecture, seminar or educational series. How many times have you said, “Why would you do THAT?” but secretly, you were curious? It’s just bizarre to think that we’d belittle someone who is working to improve their outlook, themselves or their lives. But it happens.

This process of seeking out information and people who can help us grow is commonly known as personal development. It is through personal development that we can grow and progress. If this development is found in a course that is offered by a school we call it “continuing education.” If the information comes from a source outside of an accredited school, we call it “personal development.” Is there a difference?

YES there is and it’s an important difference. Both are useful and have value but if you have to choose between the two, pick … personal development! Does that surprise you? We were surprised too when we first understood this because we didn’t realize one important fact:

In the world of personal development, the experts (teachers) have experienced what they teach and are applying their philosophy in their lives (at least that’s the requirement we have for people we choose to learn from). They build their businesses by assisting people take their lives to the next level… From wherever they are at the moment. On the other hand, we have the traditional teachers and professors at the institutions we call “school.” They learned what they are teaching from books with the intention of passing their knowledge onto others. Their knowledge isn’t applied in the real world except in the classroom. Of course, there are plenty of people who choose to teach after successful careers in their chosen field, and we’re not saying that education is bad, sick or wrong, in any way. What we are saying, is that if you’re going to learn something as an adult, learn from someone who is living what their teaching. They are walking the walk. The way you’ll know for sure is by reading testimonials and letters from grateful “students” who have incorporated what they’ve learned into their own lives.

The personal development industry has an enormous variety of topics from which to choose in order to expand your knowledge. Become a more effective realtor, investor, leader, parent, or partner. Learn a new trade or skill, or how to maximize the internet for your home business, quit smoking or lose weight. There is something for everyone. Literally.

It doesn’t really matter what topic you chose. Just by making a choice, you are going to see improvements throughout your life. If you learn new leadership skills for work, won’t those also translate into being a better parent? It’s impossible to learn and not transform. It’s in our nature. It’s progress.

You are the constant in your own life. As you continue to grow and learn, you become a better you!

Personal Development is the key to living your dreams. We have an amazing system which will help you create, implement, and achieve your personal development plan today!