Whole Person Wellness Part 4 – Personal Growth & Development

By dougnau on Jan 19, 2009 in Personal Growth, Wellness Coaching

Whole Person Wellness Series

This article is part of a series explaining in detail a complete model of whole person wellness. If you’ve come across this article before reading my introductory piece The Six Components of Whole Person Wellness, I encourage you to refer back to this article as a starting point for the definition of whole person wellness, and an introduction to its six components.

The fourth article in this series is on Personal Growth and Development:

Health
Career
Relationships
Personal Growth & Development
Finance
Enjoyment

Whole Person Wellness – Personal Growth & Development Defined

If you’ve seen the title of this website, it should come as no surprise that personal growth and development is one of the six components of whole person wellness. Personal growth and development takes on many different forms and shapes – here’s my best attempt at defining what personal growth and development is:

Personal growth and development is the conscious and ongoing process of self improvement and betterment. It is the educational and experiential process of seeking information such that it can be used to bring one closer to their goals and life vision. Growth and development can be the result of both negative and positive life experiences when framed in such a manner that these experiences are used to improve future outcome.

Ways to Grow

Most people assume that the ‘right’ way to develop oneself is through a formal schooling system. While this is certainly one way to grow, this may not be the best fit for everyone as the education you can garner from such an institution has limits of format and boundaries on the topics available. Furthermore, some people learn better in a practical rather than theoretical environment. Here’s a small collection of different ways people grow and develop:

Formal schooling (universities, trade schools, etc)
Online schooling/accreditations/certifications
Apprenticeship/On the job training
Reading/self study
Trial and Error
Enrolling a mentor
Speaking with experts/Observing others
Attending seminars, workshops and conferences
Spiritual groups/Church/meditation workshops
Volunteering
Travel/Experiencing new things

As you can see from list above, personal growth and development, while it includes ways to improve financial outcome, is in no way restricted to ways to make money. Quite often this becomes a focus when financial strains are present but few people refer back to how well they were off financially when they lie on their death bed. In this case, questions like how well did I develop my relationships with others become much more important.

Personal Growth and Wellness

Why is personal growth and development one of the six components of whole person wellness? If its not obvious, the answer is simply because it is human nature to live up to our potential. We know we are given incredible amounts of opportunity when we are born as human beings: and we are happy, elated, satisfied and joyous when we feel that our lives are in congruence with that potential. Becoming one with this potential is the result of a conscious focus on personal growth.

In the whole sense of the word, wellness is a state of harmony. We are well emotionally and spiritually (which is also reflected physically) when we are living up to the potential that we inherently know exists within us. To provide an analogy – I could commute to work in an 18 wheeler, but a small sedan or a motorcycle would provide better congruence. Likewise, I’d have a tough time hauling around 10 tons of tomatoes in my sedan, but the 18 wheeler would be pleased with this challenge.

You too have challenges (opportunities) you know you’d like to take on. When you prepare yourself to master these challenges, you are embarking on the most meaningful forms of personal growth and this natural harmony generates a sense of whole person wellness.

Personal Development: Weighing Today against Tomorrow

Any time I write about preparing oneself for the future, I am compelled to comment on an aspect of life balance that is timeless. Virtually everyone has goals and a vision for tomorrow (and beyond). We see life as a culmination of events in which tomorrow will be bigger and better than today. We revel in the idea of how great it will be when I receive the raise, when I finish school, or when we just complete this home project. Tomorrow comes, and the never ending list of aspirations is updated and redefined.

There is nothing wrong with this, its simply one aspect of human nature. The guidance I’d like to provide is simply to seek a balance in life which is not only based on the six components of whole person wellness, but one which does not sacrifice tomorrow for today. Having a strong sense of vision for the future while living in the present is not only possible, but should be the goal of any personal development enthusiast.

Questions for Self Inquiry

In what areas do I feel I would like to improve myself?
What goals do I have in this area?
How would I feel if I were to achieve these goals?
Do I believe that these goals are in alignment with my highest personal potential (and that I will love the path towards their completion?)
What will be the best form of ‘education’ to achieve these goals?
How will these goals affect my personal life balance/wellness in the near term?
How will these goals affect my personal life balance/wellness in the long term?

Be Well