While we all have problems we want to overcome, personal development does not dwell on the past but seeks to open up the future. Dwelling on past problems may cause us to swelter in a sense of our limitations. Avenues of personal development open up new possibilities and give hope. They do this through learning a new skill, entering into a sport or game where we interact and share with others, or giving a helping hand to someone in need. This article will give you some ideas about how to proceed with your own personal development.
First you need to assess your own abilities. You may want to play power forward for the New York Knicks, but what are the chances? This level of talent and skill is one in a million. Aim for something that is well beyond your present skills or knowledge, but which you have a realistic chance of achieving. Think about what you yearn for. Does the beauty of blue and white china hold a special, unexplained attraction for you? Through study you can become an expert in it. You can begin to build a collection, teach a class in it, even write a book or appear on “Antiques Road Show.” Who knows? Pursuing your passion takes time and effort, but is far more likely to lead to success than pursuing activities you are really not interested in.
Joy is a necessary element. If an activity does not bring you joy, why pursue it? If you pursue a skill doggedly but without enthusiasm, you are unlikely to make a success of it. Other people feel your enthusiasm and respond to it. If you love antique Persian rugs, you can make other people love them too, adding to their enjoyment of life. Passing on the skills you have learned and the things you treasure is part of the joy of any hobby or any kind of personal achievement.
Pursuing a hobby you love can relieve stress in your life. The positive drives out the negative. Intense concentration on something you love doing has a curative effect.
Don’t be content with the skills you have mastered in the past. Look for new challenges. A new activity can open up whole new worlds to you. Perhaps you see butterflies as lovely creatures but have never taken a particular interest in them. But if you take a class about butterflies, view videos about their amazing migrations over thousands of miles, and learn their habits and the minutia of their lives, your fascination will grow. You will have formed a new bond with the vast, astounding world we live in.
Too much of our daily work these days involves routine and boredom. Personal development is a way of overcoming this lifeless condition. Pursuing a real interest can add years to your life. It carries you forward with hope and enthusiasm. Your aunt who made all those beautiful hooked rugs in her later years knew this. It brought fulfillment to her life.
So don’t hold back. Pursue the interests that fascinate you. They will add value to your life and to the lives of those around you.