The Benefits Of Personal Development

The Benefits Of Personal Development

Article by Zarelsie Van Der Merwe

The process of individual development differs from the formal education process in that the latter teaches new concepts, but it is only through the internal individual processes of self development that individuals learn to apply that knowledge and grow. The reason is that individual development comprises actions that improve consciousness and identity, develops the individual’s potential and therefore enhance quality of life beyond what normal education can do. It takes the aspirations and vision of an individual and turns it onto reality far more of what can be set of just education. Given this, it is clear that the benefits of personal development are far reaching. Here are a few of those benefits:

Personal development empowers the individual. It stops people from being victims by letting others take control of their lives and their destiny. It moves them away from a life of submission and subsistence, living according to someone else’s schedule, wishes and under someone else’s power into a life of personal achievement and personal control. It not only improves self knowledge, but also improves social abilities, health and lifestyles.

Self growth does not have to be hard and expensive like formal education. It can be attained by self study, role play, coaching and mentoring, practical involvement and wider reading, all of which are mainly free, easy and can be done during the time limits to each individuals liking. Although developing personally cannot be measured without goal setting and against the attainment of goals, it is as diverse as the individual’s own goals and vision.

Personal development sets people free. It ties into being empowering, but it goes further too. It sets people free from a life of only limited possibilities, creates opportunities and can generate income from acquired learning and development which would have been impossible before.

Self growth focuses on goals and visions, which is in contrast with just learning for the acquisition of knowledge. Through setting goals people take control of their lives and destiny and contribute to the betterment of society in general as well. Attaining goals moves humankind forward, one goal at a time. This way it contributes to the aspirations of groups of people, being led by a concept of developing the self.

Personal development is never ending, it is ongoing. Learning courses has to end at some point in time, when the individual has learnt everything they can possibly learn about the subject, but personal development, being an internal process inside an individual, means that growth of that individual is infinite – it never has to end. It relates to improving oneself infinitely, only to be ended when the individual chooses to end the process consciously. However, it is also true that personal development as an unconscious process continues, even if individuals are not aware or focused on development itself.

Personal development is the individual’s responsibility. It is not up to how good or bad the system of governments and formal education institutions are, but rather it is up to the drive of the individual to develop and drive the internal personal development. When people take responsibility for their own development, formal education and government support systems can enhance that development, but it has to start with the individual themselves to instigate a process of personal development.The benefits of personal development far outweigh the benefits of education alone. When individuals take responsibility for their own personal development, it will deliver personal freedom, empowerment, it is rather easy and inexpensive and accessible to more people than formal education alone. As individuals personally develop, it leads to increased human capital and improved productivity of groups of people and even nations.

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