Personal Development Defined

Recently I was having a conversation with my family and my caring (read concerned!) mother, asked me what I was up to these days. When my response included 'personal development' she asked me for clarification and what I meant. I thought for a moment and realised this was indeed a good question, especially as personal development can and does cover so many areas.

I thought the best way to describe it (and the way I have understood personal development to be for the last 25 years or so) is from the great George Zalucki, and I quote:

"If you do not take responsibility for being alive,
if you do not take responsibility for developing the gifts that
you have, if you do not take responsibility for contributing
to the rest of humanity, in each of those areas to the degree
you don't take responsibility, to that degree you shall
trade off the quality of your life."

That for me encompasses everything we need to take on board as part of our dynamic personalities, if we are indeed to live our lives to the full. Everything else which makes up our unique personalities that we place under the heading of personal development, all relates to that statement; confidence, goal setting, living life at cause, responsibility, health, wealth, it's all there. In fact the list is endless. 

Anything that makes us think about whether we are doing our best at any given moment, not only for ourselves and our families, but for humanity also, is worth analysis and course adjustment where necessary. For the question I thank my mother, and for the enduring answer I thank Mr Zalucki.