A Theory of Personal Development

A Theory of Personal Development

There are many ideas surrounding personal development, one of which is detailed below - Abraham Maslow's process of Self Actualisation.

Self Actualisation

Maslow (1970) suggests that all individuals have an in-built need for personal development which occurs through the process called self-actualisation.

The extent to which people are able to develop depends on certain needs being met and these needs form a hierarchy.  Only when one level of need is satisfied can a higher one be developed.  As change occurs throughout life, however, the level of need motivating someone’s behaviour at any one time will also change.

At the bottom of the hierarchy are the basic physiological needs for food, drink, sex and sleep, i.e., the basics for survival. 

-  Second are the needs for safety and security in both the physical and economic sense. 

-  Thirdly, progression can be made to satisfying the need for love and belonging. 

-  The fourth level refers to meeting the need for self-esteem and self-worth.  This is the level most closely related to ‘self-empowerment’. 

-  The fifth level relates to the need to understand.This level includes more abstract ideas such as curiosity and the search for meaning or purpose and a deeper understanding. 

-  The sixth relates to aesthetic needs of beauty, symmetry and order.  At the top of Maslow’s hierarchy, is the need for self-actualisation. 

Maslow (1970, p.383) says that all individuals have the need to see themselves as competent and autonomous, also that every person has limitless room for growth. 

Self-actualisation refers to the desire that everybody has ‘to become everything that they are capable of becoming’.  In other words, it refers to self-fulfilment and the need to reach full potential as a unique human being.

For Maslow, the path to self-actualisation involves being in touch with your feelings, experiencing life fully and with total concentration.

Maslow, A. H. (1970), Motivation and Personality, (2nd Edition), Harper & Row, New York.

Developing Self-Control

Developing Self-Control

We said before that self-control is about using reason to master instinct.

There are a number of questions to ask yourself when you really want something that will help you to apply reason to your desire.

These include:

·  What sort of things do you want, and how many? Do you desire a reasonable amount, too many or too few? It’s reasonable to want a few things but, if as soon as you get something you’re looking for the next, that’s not so good. And if you want something in such large quantities that it affects your health or well-being, that’s also bad news.

·  How much do you want the object? How far would you go to get it? If you would do something illegal, or put yourself in debt, to obtain it, that’s much too strong.

·  How much enjoyment do you get out of it? Do you enjoy it enough to make it worthwhile, or simply move on to wanting more or something else?

·  When do you satisfy the desire appropriately? Is now a good time, or would ‘later’ or another occasion be more appropriate?

·  How much pain does it cause you not to satisfy the desire? Is it excessive to the extent that it is damaging your enjoyment and that of other people?

Applying reason to all these can help you to apply self-control when you need to do so.

Finding the Balance

Self-control is not about total abstinence, it’s about finding the right balance for you.

There is an old saying that ‘a little bit of what you fancy does you good’, and provided that it is not illegal or actually damaging, that is almost certainly true. Denying yourself what you need is as bad as over-indulging. It will certainly quickly remove quite a lot of joy from your life.

You can find the right balance by thinking through your desires using the questions above, and considering what ‘too little’, ‘too much’ and ‘just right’ would look like.

Once you know, you can strive for ‘just right’ and you are well on the way to developing self-control.

Source by Skillsyouneed.com

Personal development. Self Control

Defining Self-Control

The basic premise of self-control is the use of reason to control instinct, whether that instinct is for something bad or against something that is good for us.

In an age of instant gratification, it is perhaps an unusual and under-valued quality but, nonetheless, one worth striving for.

You will know that you need to exercise self-control when you feel either:

• Overwhelming desire to do something pleasurable, which you know is not good for you, especially in excess; or
• Disgust at the idea of doing something, especially if you know it is good for you.

Assessing your Self-Control

You can get an idea of your levels of self-control by thinking about something that you really want, whether food, drink, or object. You might, for example, feel that you really love chocolate.

Now give yourself a rating from one to ten for:

• How much you really want that something, on the right occasions, and in the right amounts;
• The strength of the pleasure that you get from buying, eating or otherwise possessing it; and
• How disappointed you would be if you couldn’t have it.

Consider whether you feel that you are governed by your desire for that thing (for example, you might find yourself saying ‘I really have to have some chocolate right now’).

Pained by not being able to have it (for example, ‘I’ve gone a whole day without being able to buy any chocolate because the shop was closed. That’s really spoiled my day’).

In control (for example, ‘I haven’t had any chocolate for a few days, so a bar wouldn’t hurt, but perhaps I’ll leave it until tomorrow because I had a piece of cake earlier’).

Going through a process like this will help you to assess whether your desire is appropriate, or excessive, and whether or not to indulge in what you want.

A Slight Diversion: Shame

If you do something which you know you should not do, such as overeat or drink too much, you may feel ashamed.

Shame is generally driven by a sense of personal disappointment at having let ourselves down, and is therefore helpful in developing better self-control. Next time you are tempted, try to remember how ashamed you were last time,and that will help you to exercise the necessary self-restraint.

Source Skillsyouneed.com

Self Control

Personal development

Self-control is the ability to control oneself, in terms of having mastery over one’s desires and appetites. Those who are self-controlled can temper what they want, to ensure that they do not over- or under-indulge.

St Thomas Aquinas, a medieval philosophy and theologian, said that self-controlled people were able to ‘preserve their lives’. In other words, they were able to do the right things to keep themselves healthy and happy.

Three Habits of Self-Control

Self-controlled people can be thought of as having acquired three habits:

1. Self-Preservation

They have a healthy attitude towards ‘things’ and focus on what they need in order to live, rather than what they want. They use what they need to enrich their lives, but do not over-indulge. They do not try to exploit others in any way.

2. Self-Assertion

They know their own value, and are comfortable in saying what they think in a way that allows others to speak too. They are firm but gentle with others, and do not put themselves or others down.

3. Self-Fulfilment

The way to self-fulfilment is closely linked to resilience. Those with self-control are able to understand that it is important to persevere with difficult activities if you are to develop skill in them. However, if you do persevere, you will learn the skill and will get pleasure from it.

Examples of skills which may not come easily but which give huge pleasure include drawing and other forms of visual art, learning to play a musical instrument and studying a new subject for interest.

Fundamentally, self-control allows us to enjoy the good things of life in moderation, without wanting too much, and knowing when we have had enough.

Source skillsyouneed.com

What is Personal Development?

Personal development

Personal development is a lifelong process. It’s a way for people to assess their skills and qualities, consider their aims in life and set goals in order to realise and maximise their potential.

This page helps you to identify the skills you need to set life goals which can enhance your employability prospects, raise your confidence and lead to a more fulfilling, higher quality life.  Plan to make relevant, positive and effective life choices and decisions for your future to enable personal empowerment.

Although early life development and early formative experiences within the family, at school, etc. can help to shape us as adults, personal development should not stop later in life. 

This page contains information and advice that is designed to help you to think about your personal development and ways in which you can work towards goals and your full potential.

Personal development. Excellent book. "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone"

Personal development

 "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone"

This magical book of my childhood. In a series of books about Harry Potter has grown a whole generation.

This book I read first in Russian. And I had to wait for the translation for half a year. Now here's a re-read in English.

The book has the inner magics. It is easy to read. The interesting and unpredictable plot (when you read the first time).

Why I took this book in a section for self-development? Everything is very simple. This book is first and foremost about good people and friendship.

Here we are introduced to Harry Potter. With his adoptive family. For the first time once we get into the world of wizards and Muggles know who are.

Transported to Hogwarts magic school. Meet the "bad" and "good" teachers. Harry becomes friends and enemies.

I write and wants to re-read again.

For me the main thing that is disclosed in this book friendship, family.

In general everyone who wants to rest a decent book, even despite the fact that she was children, my advice to read this.

This book is the first of the series and the most fabulous.

Happy reading, dear Muggles. 

Useful devices. Amazon Kindle 4.

      Personal development. 

     I present to your attention a very useful device - Amazon Kindle 4th Generation.
     The device was bought in 2011, a few months after the release of the US market. I ordered the full version without ads. At the time of the purchase price was 120 $.
     For those who are interested in self-development, this device is indispensable. First, let's think about the environment.
     1) Felling of trees is reduced, when we read the e-books instead of paper.
     2) The price and availability of books in electronic form.

There is another bonus for people in developing countries. For example, I have to flash your device and set Coolreader program that allowed me to read all of the existing e-book formats.
     Using the device is very convenient. Acquired pouch and carried with me to work. I read on the way to work. Places takes a lot, weighs a little. Who reads all formats.

     The result of 5 years and the use of some positive emotions. It happens sometimes spontaneously reboots. But all this stuff. The case of the intensive reading is wiped.

Personal finance. Business. Start of development.

    Personal development.

     For people who are interested in their own development in the field of business and finance, to recommend reading the book Robert Kiyosaki "Rich Dad Poor Dad"

   The book is written in simple language and be understood by all readers, regardless of education and age.

In this book you will find the basics of financial literacy. In it well describes the concept of assets and liabilities.       Fundamentals of Investing in Real Estate (US).

   Perhaps the story of the "rich dad" and is far-fetched, but it is instructive.

Information about the blog.

Blog author: Alexander Tseluyko.

Blog theme: Personal development and improvement.

Sources for self-improvement and self-development:

1) Books.

2) Films.

3) Eastern religions (Buddhism, Confucianism).