Self Development Just For Losers?
I’ve noticed an interesting, somewhat limiting perspective from people who are not actively involved in self-development and/or personal discovery programs and pursuits. The general attitude I see in people who don’t read self-help books, and the sentiment projected by the mainstream/prime time media is…
Only losers and people who are “messed up” need self-help. This kind of book, course, and general content is for people who have something “wrong” with them.
Wow. What a sad, pathetic point of view!
First of all, people who don’t feel they can benefit from self-knowledge and personal development are fooling themselves and contributing to the “dumbing down” of our planet. EVERYONE has work to do in terms of finding out who they are and becoming their ideal self… this is perhaps the whole point of life!
Second, the most successful, happy, and wealthy people on this planet are the biggest market segment for self-help sales volume! Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, and every other wildly successful person you can think of all understand the immense value of personal development and actively engage the pursuit of self-improvement.
Like me, you may have friends and relatives who think you’re a cook for spending so much of your time listening to personal improvement audios, reading self help books, watching spiritual DVDs, and so forth. Instead of being irked by these obtuse people, think of ways you can show them by example just how much of a great impact intentional self-discovery and development can have on an individual, family, and community level.
Seriously consider: If everyone took complete responsibility for being their personal best this world would become heaven on earth in many ways!
The power of thought alone can transform our society. And with every individual spirit vibrating at the optimal level we will have the power to manifest the ideal world.
Tags: be your best, personal development, power of thought, Self Development, self help, self-improvement
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
This is a very thought provoking post Tim.
I differ with your point of view, but only very slightly. The way I see things is that each of us is a unique perfect reflection of the Divine. The only reason we perceive any type of lack or limitation in ourselves is largely due to the choice we made to come to this plane of exixtence and inhabit these material bodies.
There is nothing “wrong” with us. There is nothing we need to fix or improve. Our task in this lifetime is to open up and allow all the magnificent power we are capable of tapping to come through. This is tough. Not because that power isn’t right there with us always. But because we have been socialized away from this wisdom from the time we were tiny children.
A friend of mine and I often share a laugh over the phrase “spiritual seeker”. If you are constantly seeking then you are never resting in the pure state of spiritual completion. Does that resonate as truth to anybody?
Yes it is good to expand our awareness as much as possible. There is nothing wrong with exercising our spiritual muscles. But perhaps most importantly we need to gently nudge our remembrance back to the truth that we are already perfect and complete.
Thanks for sharing. If any of your readers might benefit from some of my insights, they are welcome to visit http://articles.youarepsychic.com.
Andrea