Abraham Maslow, Alfred Adler, and Carl Jung, to name a few, emphasized the inherent desire of humans to reach one’s potential. Though oftentimes this biological drive is thwarted by social unfavorable conditions, nevertheless it continues to emerged and flourished. Similar to a seed left in undesirable condition that will still sprout to actualize its potential to be a tree, flower or any crop.
Personal development embodies this biological drive, as we constantly seek to incur skills, knowledge and experience to enhance our self-perception and performance. This is the underlying reason why we spend countless sleepless nights studying our lessons, reading books, practicing a certain skill and seeking a high salary.
Personal development is initiated by one’s personal desire to actualize one’s potential. However the definition of self-actualization is relative to every other person. One person reaches one’s potentials by being a musician with the skill of Mozart, while the other becomes self-actualized through philanthropic deeds. This is similar to the idea of multiple intelligences by Gardner that denies an absolute definition of intelligence. The desire for Personal development is exhibited in improving myriad aspects of one’s self, such as romantic relationship, financial status, self identity, social identity, emotional, spiritual and physical well bring.
Personal development requires specific goals, plans and actions as well as standard set of criteria to evaluate ones’ improvement. It requires an open mind and the commitment to undertake any actions to improve. It should be noted that Personal development is continues process, that does not cease. It motivates and propels us forward and ironically fuels our insatiable appetite for the better.
Upon accomplishing our goal to have a college degree, our objective shift to finding a job with high salary. Learning a piece of musical composition only impels us to learn more and complicated compositions. Personal development is an enduring process that keeps our veins pump blood into our interior vena cava, supply oxygen into our lungs, and transmit countless information in our synapses within non-a-second.
Only a rotten corpse does not possess the desire for Personal development. Similarly a man stops living once he no longer possesses the longing for self-actualization. It is indispensable in life as much as humans need water, oxygen and food to survive. Consciously and unconsciously we are driven and propelled forward by the need to nourish our potentialities, otherwise succumb into futile and barren existence that is no different from a living dead.