We all eventually find out how difficult life can be. Just while we think we’ve got a hold onto something, it slips through our fingers making us feel out of control, anxious and in fear. What’s more, we may unknowingly cultivate habits that produce negative results in our lives. 

That is why personal development is a crucial part of the life of every human being. When you think of personal development, one thing should run through your mind—self-improvement. 

Indeed it’s about evaluating your personal attributes, skills and shortcomings in order to make positive changes that will help you lead a more meaningful, happier and fulfilling life. Personal development can help improve mindfulness in various aspects of your life from work to relationships as well as how you relate with friends and family. 

That said, personal development can seem challenging. After all, it will push you out of your comfort zone. However, this is often the only way to experience growth. It can in turn boost your confidence when you finally start to realize that you can now handle situations that previously seemed difficult. 

Another major reason why personal development is important is it’s closely interlinked with self-awareness. You will be taking a closer objective look at yourself to be able to identify your strengths as well as your shortcomings and work on areas which need improvement. 

But where do you start? 

Well, you can begin by focusing on the key attributes of personal development. 

  • Attention

Attention in the context of personal development would mean becoming aware of yourself. Understanding your personality, your weaknesses and strengths as well as how you tend to behave under pressure are just some of the factors to consider during self-evaluation. 

It also means becoming aware of any problems and shortcomings that you may have and how these affect those around you. It’s a major part of emotional intelligence. Attention is thus an important first step to improving yourself from all significant areas of your life. After all, you cannot solve the problem if you don’t first and foremost understand or become aware of the problem.  

Without this level of understanding we are likely to remain in a vicious cycle where we constantly place ourselves in difficult and compromising situations. Often people tend to blame the situation without realizing that it’s their habits and behavior that have led them there. 

Many of us are rushing through life. It’s no wonder that we are often having to deal with the aftermath caused by seemingly small mistakes. 

For instance, an accountant could be in a habit of not cross checking their work and end up adding a 0 at the wrong place. At the workplace, a lack of attention to detail can and often is the difference between substandard work and great work. This could end up costing the company huge expenses and may even his or her job. 

This is just one example of how a lack of attention can cause huge negative after effects in our lives. 

Attention is often the first step towards self-awareness. Subsequently, this leads to taking action towards improving oneself. It’s therefore a precursor to personal development. Attention is a crucial attribute to changing and improving yourself into the best version of you. 

After you have grasped the concept of attention, you can then move to the next stage in your self-development—intention. 

  • Intention 

Understanding why you are doing what you are doing is a key attribute to personal development and self-awareness. This helps focus your energy on the goal or what you are trying to achieve. 

Let’s say you’ve decided to improve your knowledge by reading books. You can’t just read any book and very likely the books that you choose to read on a regular basis will help you improve certain skills that you need.

For instance, you may be looking to become a better salesperson. Books that focus on business, deals and making sales can help instill the right knowledge. 

This can help turn you into a better business person.

Similarly if you want to find out how to deal with certain personality flaws, and improve on your self-care, then self-improvement books can provide you with workable strategies that you could use to turn yourself into a better person.

The goal is to define your intention and what you are trying to achieve and then focusing your energy on things that will help you achieve your goals. 

Which brings us to our next point. 

  • Manifestation 

A simple way to define manifestation is to bring something from your thoughts and emotions into your physical reality. 

Many of us don’t realize that what we focus our action and attention on is what manifests into our physical reality. And this could be both good and bad. It all depends on where your energy is. 

It follows then that if we focus our every on negative habits, we will continue to experience negative results. 

Similarly if we focus our minds and energy on positivity and behaviors that bring fulfilment, we will reap positivity in our lives. 

It’s crucial therefore to become self-aware and to focus on positivity and growth. This will mean defining and understanding what we want to achieve in our lives and creating a strategy that helps focus our energy towards our goals. 

  • Expansion 

Personal development also encompasses expansion. This involves turning yourself into the best version of you and will often include improving on your talents and building on your skills.

There are many benefits to personal expansion such as improving on your employability. Something to always keep in mind that is that expansion is a lifelong process and is about continuous self-improvement. 

Areas which you may need to focus on when thinking about expansion include:

  • Improving self-knowledge by taking a course or reading books
  • Improving on your income and wealth
  • Spiritual development
  • Improving leadership
  • Improving your potential and what you are capable of doing both physically and mentally
  • Enhancing your lifestyle 
  • Improving on your health
  • Improving on your social abilities. 

Final Thoughts

Personal development can lead to a more fulfilling and happier life. However, an important part of self-improvement is self-awareness. Analyzing your strengths and weaknesses and working towards bettering yourself is the essence of personal development.