Personal Development

It's all about You!

The greatest investment you can ever make is in You!

The beauty is; not only will it improve and enhance your life, but also the lives of all those around YOU.

As your presence and beautiful new energy naturally lifts and inspires them too!

That is a beautiful gift; to yourself, those you love and to the world!

"Just as the acorn contains the mighty oak tree, the self has everything it needs to fulfil its destiny.

When the inner conditions are right it naturally emerges" Derek Rydall

Where do you start?

Do you remember the beautiful, fun song from The Sound of Music; "Do-Re-Mi."

"Lets start at the very beginning,

A very good place to start

When you read you begin with A-B-C

When you sing you begin with do-re-mi...."

When ever I think about where to start I can't help but hear that wonderful song in my head (as well as 'My favourite things' from the same soundtrack). It's happy, it's fun and helps me remember the basics, making me smile and feel calmer. Maybe there's a song that has the same affect for you?

One step at a time

I use the term Personal Development but you can think of it as; 
Your personal journey to discovering the most wonderful person; You, loving the life you live and creating the future you desire and deserve!

Development brings thoughts of growth, improvement or getting closer too...

Personal Development or Personal Growth is a choice. When you decide to look inward, when you decide to discover who you truly are, what you're capable of and what you can do to improve the quality of your life, you open yourself up to a world of opportunities, love and joy. You might begin your journey with something specific in mind e.g. improving your relationships, your career, health and well being or you may just be looking to feel happier. When you begin your personal development journey no matter what area your focusing on you will start to notice the beautiful effect it has in other areas of your life as well.

Personal Development is a continual practise of growth. It can be achieved alone in your own quiet space reading a recommended self-help book or listening to an audio and you can (and should) enlist the help of others, someone who inspires you, motivates you, encourages and supports you. There is so much information available to anyone who takes the time to look. They say when the student is ready - the teacher appears. Well the teacher comes in many forms. Meditation, books, visual techniques, courses, workshops, support groups, training programs, retreats, enlisting the help of a personal coach, just to name a few. 

Personal Development brings out the natural qualities that already exist within. It's about replacing unhelpful habits and beliefs that have crept in and built up from the meanings placed on them from our past experiences. Personal Development is also about bringing you closer to your authentic self - the you without all the limitations, guilt, masks and stress of worrying about what everyone else will think or say.

Personal Development should NEVER make you feel inadequate or unworthy.

Personal Development should NEVER make you feel compelled to spend thousands of dollars on courses and programs. Although there are thousands out there worth every cent (I am not discouraging them, having gained and grown using several myself and of-course now offering these services as a professional coach and counsellor) I am just noting that Personal Development can be achieved on any level even if it starts with as little as using the local library to search the internet and borrow books.

• You are already brilliant!
• Though you may not know it or believe it.

• You are already the most loving and lovable human being!
•  Though you may not feel it.

I truly understand it may seem easy to write some statements. Like you're Brilliant, Capable, Fabulous, Beautiful, Loving, Creative, Intelligent and all those good things. You might think "hey 'you know nothing about me, my life, what I've done or what I'm going through" and you're right. But what I do know about you, like everyone, is that we are all born with every possible attribute you can think of. Including all those associated with love and all those associated with fear. And ultimately what you affirm (state, believe or think) you will experience, you will become. If you think you're unlovable, hopeless, unattractive, clumsy etc - that's what you'll experience, that's what you'll continue to create - experiences that back up the feelings and thoughts you have about yourself. 

The beauty of this very simple phenomena is that it works both ways. Through the process of personal development, taking a personal journey within, you can discover that you are all of those good things! And start to create, live and experience the life you were meant to live.

There are two very simple tools that will help you get started!

They are also two of the best habits we can ever form.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

An affirmation is simply a statement of what is or what will be. We affirm things everyday without even realising it. Often our affirmations are negative and very unhelpful as our minds centre around thoughts and feelings of lack, helplessness, hopelessness, can't, not lucky enough and so on. Positive Affirmations are the turning point and beginning of changing your focus to create more of what you want, while acknowledging and stating what is already great.

GRATITUDES

Gratitude is simply the feeling of being thankful for something or somebody, and acknowledging it. It truly is one of the most powerful ways to transform your life.

Practising Positive Affirmations and Gratitudes will help you shift your focus and centre your mind around thoughts and feelings that generate self-worth, abundance, capability, love, happiness, creativity and motivation. The feelings and emotions that will actually help you rather than those feelings and emotions that keep you stagnate, doubtful or stuck in fear.

When you shift your focus and start positively affirming what you desire, what you already are (all the great qualities) and acknowledge all the things and people you are already grateful and thankful for in each moment; you will create and see even more glorious moments and possibilities.

I once read "What if you woke up with only the things you were grateful for yesterday?"

This is NOT just a Feel Good Philosophy 
Quantum Physicists have proven this over and over. 

Your mind and what you're capable of; is truly amazing. 

There are endless ideas, books, tools and techniques available to help us develop and grow. To experience and live a more loving, happy and authentic life. The inner journey of personal development is not always an easy one, however it is a journey that can take you where ever you choose to go. So be patient with yourself, and remember; ONE STEP AT A TIME.

Everything begins with a vision of something better!

Try the two FREE PDF exercises Wheel of Life and Dream, Plan, Action to help you gain clarity and direction.

Karen Offord › Personal Development