How do you define Personal Development?

I’ve had people ask me, what exactly is personal development? I define it as any

action taken towards the positive change, enhancement or growth of self. This is a journey I am familiar

to and a journey that is continuous. As life around us changes, it requires us to evolve and often time

this is where we become stuck. We become stuck with fear, stuck with uncertainty or stuck with

resistance. Are you stuck? Have you been stuck?

A few years ago, I found myself stuck. I was depressed, frustrated, afraid, overwhelmed, unmotivated

and I even felt lonely despite having many around. I was in a relationship that I chose repeatedly despite

its’ lack of growth. I was distant from friendships because of my own insecurities. I was in a job that I

allowed to make me feel worthless. I was what I called a “hot buttery mess”. Well, there comes a time

where we get tired of where we are and we get tired of the excuses and desire so much more for our

life. At minimum, we desire peace.

So, how do we journey our way from pieces to peace? It begins with something that we often

complicate. If you notice above as I was describing events from my past, I said the word “chose.” I owned

what I was responsible for in the situation. No, not every life encounter is our fault. Nor was every

encounter welcomed by us. However, I ask you to consider either how moving through obstacles can

keep us in pieces or assist us in creating peace. I do not believe in the “get over it” mentality, because

some things you will never get over. Yet, you can learn healthier ways to cope and create a level of

function in life that is peaceful. The key is to acknowledge. Consider this, you may not be responsible for

whom or what caused your pain, but you are responsible for how you choose to heal or hold onto that

pain.