We’ve marked this article ‘women only’ for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we’re women, and therefore we feel more qualified to speak specifically to other women. And secondly, we don’t feel particularly qualified to explain to men how to reach their full potential. There will be some similarity between the sexes in this subject, but there are also many differences.
Why Do Women Need to Consider Personal Development?
Personal development is described as the process of improving ourselves to reach our full potential. We can apply it to many different areas in our lives: physical health, mental and emotional health, relationships, career, and spirituality.
Many women don’t consider themselves confident and empowered, which is very sad. This can be a result of conditioning (often from family members) or our treatment in the education system or workplace. We have both personally experienced what we’d term poor treatment from the people in power in our previous jobs. It can definitely affect your confidence, even – and often – leading you to “dim your light”, as it were.
Why is Personal Development So Important, Especially for Women?
It’s important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it can help with what we’ve just mentioned, namely feeling confident and empowered. Secondly, it can help us to achieve our goals and dreams. And also, it can help us to build stronger relationships – not only with others, but with ourselves as well.
Popular Methods of Personal Development
We’re probably classed as obsessed with this subject, and are more than happy to admit that’s true. Some of our favourite personal development methods are as follows.
- Reading self-help books and articles. As you’ll know if you’ve followed us for a while, we’re great believers in reading self-help books and watching videos on personal development. We have a Recommend Reading list on Amazon on this subject, feel free to check it out.
- Attending workshops and seminars. Spending time with like-minded women, with the opportunity to learn from experts (as well as each other) can open many doors for us. It can also lead to new friendships and growing support networks, both of which can be useful in helping us to succeed.
- Setting goals and then taking action. It sounds fairly obvious, but if you don’t identify what your goals/dreams are, how can you work out what you need to be doing on a daily basis? So sit down with that planner or book, or open your laptop, and start brainstorming. You’ll be amazed at what can crop up when you start digging deeper.
- Talk to someone such as a therapist or counsellor. If you’re struggling with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, anxiety or similar issues, talking to a qualified therapist can be so helpful. Search online or ask friends for their recommendations.
- Find or build a support system, so that you have people around you who can give you honest, positive feedback, and help when you experience difficulties.
Suggested reading: how to build a strong network of supporters
And Finally
Personal development is a lifelong journey and there is no one size fits all approach. What works for you may not work for the next woman, so it’s important to work out what method you need to follow.
Be kind to yourself, be patient, accept your flaws, and forgive yourself for any mistakes you’ve made. It’s a journey not a race, and you’re bound to experience setbacks along the way. This is a normal part of life. When these things happen, make sure you pause and reflect. Once you’ve done that, you can regroup and move forward, making any changes necessary.
Personal development is a useful tool to help you improve your life. You’ll develop a stronger sense of self-confidence, increased assertiveness, and improved relationships – especially the one you have with yourself. And it’s this relationship that can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mental and emotional health, and lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.
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