SEED OF LIFE

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Personal Development

"When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But when I became a man I put away childish things."

1 Corinthians 13:11

WORDS FROM OUR FOUNDER

Personal development is the act or process of understanding and developing one's self, in order to achieve one’s fullest potential. It affects a person’s growth, maturity, success and fulfillment. It is the foundation of spiritual growth, a more mature personality, better relationships, happiness, success and prosperity.......Unfortunately, everyone is not aware of the importance of personal development. It's not something many of us learn at home or even school. I've noticed that people give more priority to academic achievement over personal growth. This causes a great deal of the emotional struggles many of us face in life today. The lack of self-understanding blocks one’s ability to live a happy and successful life. I'll be the first to admit that I didn’t know the importance of personal development until I hit rock bottom and sought professional help to grow my business. I was living my life; unfocused on achievement. My life was a wreck. My negative lifestyle resulted a stressful and boring life. I was easily irritated, I complained a lot and I always saw the negative side of things. I was very strong-willed and closed-minded and it made me hard to get through to. Fortunately, all of my negative traits began to change when I learned about personal development. It's then that I had to accept that I can't fix a problem with the same mindset used when I created the problem. The change is what I often refer to as the great “transformation” in my life. My transformation created so much positive change with who I am and how I live my life now. It turned my negative and closed mindset into an open and positive one. I minimized the amount of time I spent complaining about what life brings and instead, started to see life as my own blueprint. I became conscious to how I spend my time and who I spent my time with. The bible even emphasizes how important growth really is in several verses. For example:
  • Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. or                                                                 
  • Proverbs 19:2 Also, {that}the soul {be} without knowledge, {it is } not god; and he that hasteth with {his} feet. 
Another thing I've noticed during my transformation is how, in the book of Proverbs, the bible stresses the importance of watching the company you keep. 
  • Proverbs 13:20 Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.
  • Proverbs 14:7 Leave the presence of a fool, or you will discern words of knowledge.
  • Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of a fool will suffer harm.
In reading and comprehending the text, I realized birds of a feather flock together. If you hang out with losers you'll end up a loser... SUBCONSCIOUSLY! You will never be more successful than the people you talk to everyday for no apparent reason. And once I realized this I knew I desired Success! I knew I had to take responsibility for my own life and stop playing the victim. Since I'm being honest I'll also admit that personal development was difficult for me because it was so easy to play the blame game. It's easy to blame to system, the government, our family, friends, bosses, the oppressor, or even the devil. Most of us are taught that if we are rich or poor it's because that's what The Most High have in store for our life when that's not true. That's just another Excuse. And one thing I know is we can either have success or excuses but you can't have both. So you have to choose wisely. Like everything else in life there are levels to development and we must get through every level in order to get to next level of living. When you work on the man/woman in the mirror life changes. You become more confident. More sure of who you are and your purpose for being created. You gain assurance.
Remember:
"You don't have to be great to get started but you do have to get started to be great."
"In order to get something you never had you must do what you've never done."
"I don't fix problems! I fix my thinking. Then problems fix themselves."

6 Steps To Personal Development

2. A sense of direction

Once you have raised you self-awareness, you are clearer on the things you wish to achieve from life. Decision-making becomes a lot easier. Tasks which used to take a great deal of your time, no longer make it onto your to-do list. You will realize who and what is worthy of your time.

1. Self-Awareness (KNOW THY SELF)

Your Personal development begins with self-awareness. You have get to know who you really are! Understand your values, beliefs and the purpose you wish to pursue. True fulfillment can never come from uncertainty. If you want to achieve lasting happiness, you need to design your life based on who you are. Self-awareness is the first step in personal development process.

 

4. Motivation

When you are clear about what you want to achieve, it is easier to see the benefits of taking action. Even when the tasks don't seem enjoyable; if you can see a clear benefit, you are more motivated to take the necessary steps/action. There is truth in the old saying'Where there is a will there is a way’. 

3. Improved focus and effectiveness

With personal development comes clarity. Even with an improved sense of direction, there will always be multiple tasks looking for your attention. As your personal development improves, prioritization becomes much easier. You are more clear on your objectives & you can quickly identify which task will give you the best result with the resources available to you at that moment. (Improved focus and effectiveness comes with knowing & playing on your strengths.)

 

6. Fulfilling relationships

Relationships either lift you up or drag you down. When you improve your personal development, you are better able to see which relationships are worth investing in and which need to be cut loose. You also develop the skills to make the most of those relationships which have the most positive impact on your life. 

5. Resilience (James 1:12)

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the lord hath promised to them that love him. There will be hard times in life. When these tough times occur, you need to have the skills to handle them effectively. Personal development cannot prevent all bad things from occurring but it will help you deal with them when they do. 

 

If you don’t recognize the importance of personal development, you will continue living through life’s hard circumstances feeling like a victim instead of a victor. You will stick to your belief that you cannot do something to change and improve your situation. As such, you will continue complaining and being negative with almost everything in your life. You will constantly feel lost with your own life purpose, struggling to find who you are and what you want to become. But, if you open yourself in learning personal development, you will experience a great leap in your life. You will start to become more positive in your outlook, you will be more proactive rather than reactive, you will start to create your life rather than letting circumstance create it, you will be able to find your own purpose and enjoy your life to its fullest.