There are many ways to develop. One approach is to focus on how you can continue to develop yourself, your relationships and your work.
Some people want to change everything in their lives at once, but this seldom works. Taking steps in one area, however, can have a positive effect in other areas.
Let’s explore how this can apply in daily life.
Developing Yourself
“During the last few years I have concentrated on doing well in my work,” said one person. “This has been rewarding, but I have neglected other parts of my life.”
“My health is suffering and things are not great at home. I want to get my life back on track. I know it impossible to change everything overnight, but have you any suggestions?”
After exploring various options, he chose to improve his health and encourage people in his relationships. Like many people who develop new habits, he started with the physical things. He chose:
To eat healthier food at breakfast and throughout the day.
To walk more than 7,000 steps a day.
To relearn how to breathe deeply and feel more relaxed.
Different people use different ways to develop themselves. They may choose to become fitter, learn a language, develop a new skill, embark on an adventure or whatever.
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to do the following things.
Describe the rating you would give in terms of being healthy and developing yourself. Do this on a scale 0 – 10.
Describe the specific things you can do to maintain or improve the rating.
Describe the specific benefits – both for yourself and other people – of doing these things.
Developing
Your Relationships
“Although I can work on myself, the most critical area is my relationships,” said the person mentioned above.
“Returning home from work, I sometimes dive straight into my emails, rather than take time to talk with the family.
“My son is not academic and is suffering problems at school, so I must give him more encouragement. I would also like to rebuild relationships with some old friends.”
Building on these thoughts, he set the following goals.
To create time each evening to talk with his wife.
To encourage his son to focus on what he did best – sports, music and film making – and learn how to manage the more difficult issues at school.
To rejoin his old 5-a-side football team.
Different people focus on different things to develop their relationships. If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to do the following.
Describe the rating you would give in terms of being healthy and developing in your relationships. Do this on a scale 0 – 10.
Describe the specific things you can do to maintain or improve the rating.
Describe the specific benefits – both for yourself and other people – of doing these things.
Developing
Your Work
Many people are familiar with the idea of improving in their work. Sometimes this involves developing new skills or leadership skills.
On occasions it may involve refocusing on things that will lead to doing satisfying work. This is a step being taken by many people in today’s world.
“But the world of work keeps changing,” some people may say. “It is hard to know what skills to learn to be successful.”
Creative people throughout history have followed certain themes to get paid for their work. They have built on their strengths, found sponsors who paid them and delivered success.
Here are some of the steps that it is possible to work through when exploring these themes.
As mentioned earlier, people who take steps to develop in one area of their lives often find this creates positive momentum. It can lead to them developing in other areas.
If you wish, try tackling the final exercise on this theme. This invites you to do the following things.
Describe the rating you would give in terms of being healthy and developing in your work. Do this on a scale 0 – 10.
Describe the specific things you can do to maintain or improve the rating.
Describe the specific benefits – both for yourself and other people – of doing these things.
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