What is personal development vs what it is not?

There are misconceptions about what personal development is and what it’s not. This term is one you have heard people talk about, learn about, and seen them practice. This article is set to address some misconceptions around this commonly used term.  

Denis Waitley defines personal development as the belief that you are worth the effort, time and energy needed to develop yourself. Another interesting quote by Jim Rohn says, “It is the never-ending chance to improve not only yourself but also to attract opportunities and affect others.” 

If someone had to receive a dollar for how many times this term is used, that would be lots and lots of generational funds building up. They’ll be wealthier than they have ever imagined that they could be. Personal development is a lifelong process. It is never ending. However, personal development may not be totally personal after all. What does this mean? Remember the quote by Jim Rohn, which explains that personal development is not only a chance to improve yourself, but one that gives you room to affect others even while attracting opportunities. This is quite interesting.  

Misconceptions about personal development

The following are wrong ideas that people have about personal development. 

1. All you need is optimism

Being hopeful is a good thing, however there’s nothing much it would do for you if you don’t get to work. Personal development aims at making you valuable. Put in the actual work of building yourself in areas that you would like to get better at, and be hopeful that it will be worth every time and commitment that you put into it.  

2. It is torture

Personal development is not torture. Of course, it would require you moving out of your comfort zone, but it is not torture! The aim is to be a better person and be valuable, remember? It’s not going to be a smooth ride all through, but there are good times. Personal development doesn’t make you miserable, it prepares you for greater opportunities ahead. Yes, it will stretch you, and that’s a good thing. 

3. Seminars will do the work for you

Seminars are a good thing for you if you are passionate about growth and being a better person. However, they will not do the work for you. The bulk of work lies on you. They are there to teach you and guide you, but they will not automatically move bars for you, you have to put in the work.  

You are the one to put into practice all that you’ve learned from seminars. Going to a seminar or workshop doesn’t automatically make it a walk in the park for you. You have to implement all that you have been taught. 

4. Personal development is ONLY for the smart and ambitious

Everyone has what it takes to build themselves and be better. A newborn baby has what it takes to develop into an infant till he or she becomes an adult. It is only a matter of time. There are no restrictions. Every human being has what it takes to get better. Give it time. Time will tell. Also, remember that it’s a lifelong process; there is no end to it, and it is not limited to some set of people. Anybody can give him or herself to personal development.  

5. Your mentor, coach or teacher has all the answers you need

No one has all the answers you need. That a person is your mentor or teacher or coach and you learn from them does not mean they have all the answers. Of course, it makes your journey to being better quite easier than it would have been if you had to figure things out all by yourself. This is because you get to learn from their mistakes and other stories they have to tell, but they do not have all the answers. They could serve as your guide and roadmap.  

Jim Rohn once said, “Be a student and not a follower because your paths are different. Maybe similar, but they are different.” Learn from them, but never make the mistake of limiting yourself to what they have to offer you. Read books, and be given to knowledge. 

What personal development is

It entails working hard on yourself. If you have a job you’re doing, be good at your job, but work harder on yourself than the job.  

Personal development aims at making you valuable – to yourself and to others. Don’t love personal development by words only. Swing into action. Jim Rohn advises that people should read books, work on their language, work on their personality, work on their talents, and their abilities, work on their philosophy, build communication skills. In all you do, get better; improve.  

Benefits of personal development

Truth be told, personal development can be demanding, but it is rewarding. These are the advantages of personal development.  

1. You’re more knowledgeable and skillful.
2. Your relationships will get better because as you improve, the quality of your relationship will improve.
3. Your way of thinking positively changes.
4. Your mental set-up is stable and healthy.
5. Personal development reveals your full potentials to you. You begin to do things that you couldn’t do before.
6. It sets you up to attract opportunities while you are improving on yourself.
7. It adds value to you and no one resists value, especially one that is a solution to their problems. People would not mind paying for it. Being valuable enables you to proffer solutions to the problems of people and earn from it.
8. It creates opportunities for you to continually get better. Remember, learning never ends.
9. Personal development positions you as a model for others to commit to being valuable.
10. It will create an avenue for you to understand things clearly. It would help you simplify confusing concepts, especially on subject matters that interest you.
11. Personal development helps you to give your brand a unique and relatable outlook.
12. There’s every chance that your income would increase because your value is also on the increase.
13. It teaches you to be more thoughtful and sensible in your approach to situations. You won’t approach them unwisely.
14. Personal development sure does create an aura of excellence that makes you stand out from others

Conclusively, personal development is a lifelong exercise. You don’t take a break from it because it is only when death happens that one stops learning.