I received an email recently that asked ‘how can I choose a personal development course, I want to learn more this year, but there are too many options to choose from’.

Good question, and here’s part of my reply…

As a personal development trainer my journey has led me to try out a range of therapies, treatments, courses, ideas and theories over the years, I’ve had my body covered in smelly oils and been ‘worked’ by the elbows, hands and feet of strangers.  I’ve lay on grass as hot stones were placed on my meridian lines and wrapped in gunk, sorry, life from the sea.

I’ve allowed healing hands to pass over my clothed body and chosen to have my auras cleansed and charkas re-aligned.  I’ve screamed to the pain of reflexology and laughed uncontrollably as a shaman worked his stuff with his snuff, only to then burst into tears!

I prefer latte to tai chi, and giggled my way through a rebirth. I’ve walked fire, drummed in woods at midnight, floated (in a tank, not actually floated, in air!), sat naked too many times to mention in a hut, been tapped, attuned, swished and hypnotised and spent loving moments with my nemesis snakes and spiders.

Yeah, I agree, there are quite a few to choose from!

For the most part, many were pleasant, a few amazing, others I found boring, and some I regret as I couldn’t stop thinking ‘this has cost me how much!’, and others well, they gave me an experience as tangible as the dog that lies now at my feet or the air I breathe.

What Results Are You Seeking?

The question was ‘how can you choose the right course for you?’ my honest answer is, I cannot answer.

I don’t know you personally, I have no idea what you’re searching, seeking or what you feel as though you are missing (if anything).  What results are you looking for?  And the big question, do you need to ‘pay’ for what you already have and are perhaps afraid to use?

I think, personal development is giving yourself a challenge of a lifetime; there is no choosing, except perhaps when you do have pay for the knowledge you think you are missing.

And just because someone says ‘it’ll change your life’ or ‘it’s the easiest way to unstoppable confidence’ this is true, to them. It’s their experience however, not yours.

Let me give you an example: a few years ago when I was feeling less than my usual 95% positive, tired and needed a pick me up, I went for a walk.

6 days and 96 miles later I ended up in Fort William, after having completed the West Highland Way.  It was one of those ‘tangible’ experiences I mentioned above.  I set out on a walk, what I received was clarity, peace and for a very long time a clear, focused, calm mind (what I needed at that time). 

But that’s not why I walked.

Was it the walking, the silence, the breathing, the beauty, the challenge?

Who knows?  It was solely my experience, and as such, it needs no explanation.

I can’t take that trip every week, however I know that walking across 18ft of red hot coals somehow gives me the exact same emotional, physical and psychological experience.  Hence why leading firewalks is something I love to do, will everyone there have the same experience or feel the way I feel?

No, it’ll be unique to them.

My point: never believe you have to choose one over another, what you decide will be the best decision for you at this time, there is more time to come and other decisions waiting to be made.

Oh, and keep going, would be my next recommendation.  I see this happening a lot, especially in the healing/helping world, when people find their ‘thing’ they can close down to other possibilities and options.

Even today, I still choose to go on courses and programmes, because I’m aware that others have information, knowledge and ideas that can add value to my own life.

And also I would advise to search outside the realms of the world of personal development, (I believe) what we need to learn can happen anywhere.  (But that’s my experience! Yours may be different.)

Here’s a few questions to help you choose:

1. Why is it important for you to develop yourself?
2. What is happening right now in your life that has led you seeking a programme in personal development?
3. What do you hope to achieve by following a specific course?
4. Are there any alternatives?
5. How will you know you have achieved what you set out to learn?

Oh and if cost is a factor or is a limit to your choices: take a look at meetup.com there may be a group that practices what you want to know in your area. When you get there, just enter the cities closest to you,  or even start a group!

And on a final note, the choosing is actually the easiest part.  I recommend to people not to book another course or buy another book until they have at least applied 20% of what they learnt or read previously!

What advice would you give to people choosing a course in personal development?

Thoughts?