Personal and Professional Development: The Biggest Myths

 

Let's Slap 'Personal and Professional Development/Self Help Melarkey' On The Table in Front of You, So That You Can Shed Your Own Light On It!

 

 

Imagine for a moment that table was real – on it was everything in the world from the place of self help and personal development (including the picture to the left!)

 

It would have to be a very large table.

 

There is so much available…where do you start?

 

How do you know what programme, workshop, book or individual will help you out at this moment in your life?

 

Or you may be sitting looking at the table, shruggling your shoulders and telling me ‘it’s not for you, it doesn’t work, and decline a rather large meal'!

 

Okay lets debunk and demystify all the heehaw about Self Help and Personal/Professional Development.

 

Why?

 

Well, you're on my site and if it's okay with you, may I assume that something is ‘missing’ for you right now, your looking for help - genuine help? I'd love to do that, however what I 'do' may not be what you are looking for. So, whatever method or form of development you choose I'd like to help you so that when you explore you are more informed to make a great decision.

 

Myth One: Self Help and Personal/Professional Development is a ‘New Age’ Phenomenon!

 

Mmm...the worlds inhabitants have (esp in the past 100 years or so) gone a little 'gaga' for self improvement. Discontented people are seeking information to make them: thinner, healthier, wealthier, more sexy, loveable, happier, authentic, confident, efficacious, more successful…you name it, wherever there is human suffering their will be an answer in self help land…(and yes I would include my services in that bracket.)

 

It truly is everywhere, in fact, research shows that it’s a…wait for it…65 BILLION dollar industry!

 

That’s a heck of a lot of money…but here's the thing it’s not even NEW!

 

Far, far, from it, it’s ancient people have been thinking about 'improvement' for quite some time! It has been around in Western and Eastern cultures for a very long time.

 

In the West, Aristotle in 352 BC spoke about developing one’s excellences to reach eudaimonia or happiness. And in the East, Confucius in his works Great Learning talked of ‘rectifying hearts’ and being ‘sincere in thoughts’ – personal development 'of the time' perhaps?

 

Even more mind boggling, is how MUCH further back you could go and look at philosophy, religion and science where the BIGGY question ‘what’s the meaning of life’ that has been getting asked since written documents began (and how long have our mothers and fathers of the past been thinking it?)

 

Myth Two: Self Help Has No Scentific Background It Fails People

 

Yes, I agree a lot of it can fail and a lot of 'it' has no scientific background.

 

Yet (and it’s a BIG YET) for some people GETTING THE RIGHT HELP (support, information, knowledge) at just the right time (when you want it) improves their life...and do we have to prove THAT by science? If it works, is that not the proof?

 

However, there are many people that think by reading another book, attending another seminar or workshop, life will improve instantly and can’t understand why (when it doesn't)it ‘didn’t work’. There are people who will constantly BUY INTO the next big thing and be devasted they have again not made their own grade.

 

My advice would be stop reading – get help (that means support) and take action.

 

And you know, what works for some may not work for others and vice versa yet at the end of the day, what works for you…that's what matters.

 

Myth Three: Personal and Professional Development Isn’t For Everyone.

 

Honestly…you may not want it (and that is definately okay), yet the whole world and everything that is in it, IS available for you...you choose what you bring in and what you leave out.

 

So what DOES work?

 

That's a huge question and (smiling) it depends on who you ask…coaches will agree that coaching is the best, mentors will say that mentoring is the best, Neuro Linguistic Programmers will say their way works the best, Therapists will say their way works best...and so on.

 

I suppose the learning here is all these individuals are doing what they are doing because what they know has worked for them.

 

It’s funny they may 'disagree' on the method yet (if you asked) they all would agree on the outcomes...they all assist you, so that...

 

You are the person you were meant to be

You aspire to become the person you are meant to me

You identify with your self and who you are

You increase your awareness, defining your values, ethics and live your life which is of your chosing

You bring to life your dreams, aspirations and lifestyle

You realise and release your full potential

You are learning how to become a better you

You improve the overall quality of your life (health, wealth, family, friends, lifestyle, career, business, finances)

You have an improvement in wisdom

You expand your greater life purpose

 

Here's The Thing

 

Life - there are no rules! It doesn't matter the method you chose to develop yourself professionally and personally, as long as you remain fully accountable to use the information...that's what counts (and you enjoy it!)

 

Shed Your Own Light

 

A few questions for you to ponder over…ready?

 

They are probably as near to what I ask clients in a coaching session and yet they are thousands of years old…

 

What's the meaning of YOUR life?

What is YOUR life all about?

Why are YOU here?

What are YOU here for?

What is YOUR purpose in life?

What is the significance of YOUR life?

What is meaningful and valuable in YOUR life?

What is the value of YOUR life?

What are YOU living for?

 

If you have answered these questions (even in your head as you read them) you have just shed a little light on your own personal and professional development.

 

Without sounding rude, I believe 'inside' you know why you are here (on this page), if it helps you at all please contact me - ask a question, get your thoughts down or just know that someone is here ready and willing to give you some support...heck say hello and connect.

 

If you haven't been there yet please help yourself to my free resources, you'll also find articles here and on my blog.

 

Love and best wishes

 

Dawn Barclay