How Much Time Do You Spend on Personal Development?

I think that all depends on where you are at the present moment.

If you're at the start of your journey, personal development can be daunting.  "Where do I even start?"  It can also conjure fear of the unknown.  It can bring up feelings of inadequacy.  It can also usher in unique forms of procrastination.  Or, you may be well on your road and looking for the next step.  Regardless, personal development is an integral part of your journey towards empowerment.

It's 2:30 on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.  The clocks were turned back an hour last night.  I'm laying in bed as I just read the final pages of a new book.  Definitely celebrating rest and relaxation today.

I have emails that need answering, laundry that needs washing and about 5000 other things I could be doing. Or should be doing?  (Sometimes I think that word 'should', should be banned from our vocabularies.)  I've spent most of the day reading.  For me, this falls under the category of personal development.  It's something that I believe we should think about, act upon and move toward with intention.  That said, I choose personal development today over all else.  

Often the question comes up, "Aren't I supposed to just love and accept myself the way that I am?  But now you're telling me to improve."  Valid point.  This isn't about trying to turn into some perfect version of yourself.  My personal experience has been that loving and accepting yourself unapologetically right now is the first step in personal development. It allows you to take personal responsibility for every part of you, everything you've experienced and everything you'd like to experience.  It isn't enough to stop at the present you and not extend love to who you will be a year from now.  We must love her, too.  For in loving her, we nurture our potential.  We are always changing and it's up to us if that change looks like growth and expansion.  If it does, focus on your personal development.

I have spent a lot of time over the last few years being particularly intentional towards my personal development. It isn't always easy, but it's always worth it.

My tip?  Know ahead of time that it's like peeling back the layers of an onion. We begin with the catalyst.  For me, that was needing an entire life overhaul.  I made the difficult decisions and got through that.  Then there is the act of picking yourself back up.  Check. And then the rebuild.  Check.  Check.  And finally, the new life.  Guess what I found?  Every step of the way brings the need for more knowledge, tools and growth.  I found that the amount of time I invested in the knowledge and tools for growth directly impacted how empowered I felt every step of the way. The more I invest in my personal development, the more empowered I feel.  My empowerment has grown exponentially with each and every onion layer that has been peeled back.  I am constantly building upon the last advancement.  While life can happen to us, it is up to us to grab the reigns and start creating the life we dream of.  

Your quest for personal development will bring you in contact with so many resources that will encourage your growth.  Take this article, for instance.  I have created a company that deals strictly in the Encouragement, Empowerment and Entertainment of Women.  I believe you're not reading this by accident. I would love nothing more than to be one of those resources you access often along the way.  Stay the course and you'll find that the intentional act of personal development goes hand in hand with finding your empowerment.