What is Personal Development?

blue boat

Personal development is our conscious self-improvement and self-transcendence. It is the aspiration to realise our higher self

The process of Personal development involves several aspects:

  • Transcending our Negative Qualities.

We all have negative qualities such as pride, anger and doubt. Personal development is a conscious effort to reduce and minimise these qualities by focusing on the positive aspects of life.

  • Controlling Our Thoughts.

Control of our thoughts is essential for our own development. If we allow ourselves to be at the mercy of our own thoughts, we cannot hope to minimise our negative qualities and bring our good qualities to the fore. Meditation is the best way to cultivate a silent mind.

  • Self-Transcendence.

Self-Transcendence is the art of going beyond our own self-imposed limitations. This means we aspire to reach new goals and not to be satisfied with what we were in the past.

  • Intuition.

Personal development means we learn to listen to the inner voice – our inner pilot. The messages of our inner voice can only be heard with a silent mind. This inner inspiration comes not from our ego, but our Soul.

  • Minimise Desires.

When we live in the world of desires there is no end to our desires. However, spiritual growth means we learn to reduce our desires. By reducing our desires we discover that the source of abiding happiness is to be found in a life of simplicity and not outer success.

  • To Live in the Heart.

If we can live in the heart many of our problems will be solved. When we live in the heart, we can spontaneously feel our oneness with others.

  • Gratitude.

Gratitude is to make a conscious appreciation of the Source of all things. Without gratitude personal development is very limited

  • Enlarging our Sense of Self.

Self-improvement
Is
A continuous self-offering.

– Sri Chinmoy

Our personal development is not just about ourselves. It is about being aware of a deeper and more meaningful connection with other people and the wider world. When we can extend our sense of identity, we cannot help but implement the golden rule – “Do unto others, as you would have done to you.”

  • Who am I?

The ultimate question of personal development is who am I? Through personal development we learn that we are not the body, we are not our thoughts; in fact, our inner reality is far beyond the comprehension of the mind. To answer this question we need practice yoga. Here yoga means union; union between the human Soul and the Supreme Reality – God.

This post is part of What is Personal development? at the Personal Development Blog by Gleb

22 thoughts on “What is Personal Development?”

  1. Pingback: What Is Personal Development: Part 1 | Personal Development Blog

  2. Hi Tejvan,

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love your site – the simple design works well and you have a great range of articles.

    In regards to this article, I think you have explained personal development extremely well. Many people seem skeptical of the term “personal development”, but I think any reasonable person would agree personal development is a good thing after reading this article.

    Peter

  4. Personal development can be a difficult topic to communicate because those who practice and promote it often have very different perspectives to those who are learning about it.

    For example, I disagree with Peter, I don’t think any reasonable person would agree personal development is a good thing after reading this article. Many reasonable people do not believe in God, nor souls, and so would disagree with such as a basis for personal development. Thus, if this is their only exposure to the practice of personal development, they may not be convinced of its worth.

    But I do agree that most people would still gain something from this post, regardless of their beliefs.

  6. Thanks for comments.

    This post was more of a personal view about personal development. Although, of course, the great thing about personal development is that it doesn’t require any particular set of beliefs.

  7. Wow,Tejvan,I’d like to know more about how to control your thoughts…What kind of thought you’re gonna deny its action and what kind of thought you will definetely protect from unaccomplishment?
    I will put my eyes on your blog…
    BTW,how to access your blog via RSS?Since I’m in China and Feedburner’s been blocked,would you like to give me your rss address,please?

  9. Pingback: What Is Personal Development: part 2 | Personal Development Blog
  10. Pingback: What Is Personal Development: part 3 | Personal Development Blog

  11. hi peter that was so encouraging i am a trainer in success university and this site has given me some two to three points to talk of so thanks for that the message is so powerful and i think any body reading this site will be more inspired and motivated
    mozez

  12. Personal Development also means taken responsibility for your destiny ultimate life expectancy in terms of goals and acievements.

  13. it is realising the posibility in you and takeing unlimited steps to achive them.it is knowing who you are ,where you are and were you are going to.

  15. Pingback: Change Can Work for You | Self Help Wellness

  17. Thanks, for the meaningful explanation of Personal Development. I used it to revise for my school work for GCSE and exams and also its some on my notes that help me through, I hope I get a good grade for it. Practice makes some perfect because you’re never too perfect 100%. Thanks again for it =)

  19. Pingback: Everyday Law Of Attraction

  20. Personal development means we learn to listen to the inner voice – our inner pilot. The messages of our inner voice can only be heard with a silent mind. This inner inspiration comes not from our ego, but our Soul.

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