Personal development is a lifelong process. It is a way for you to assess your skills and qualities, consider your aims in life and set goals in order to realise and maximise your potential. The extent to which we are able to develop depends on certain needs being met and these needs form a hierarchy. The role of a therapist and psychiatrist is to help you make this a reality by ensuring that you receive all the necessary medical care you need.
It is difficult to pursue personal development/growth when you are struggling with a mental illness or disorder. To reach your full potential, you need to be in your best mental state. Dr Michelle Vlok-Barnard believes in working within a biopsychosocial model, which means that she takes into account all of the physical, psychological and social symptoms before giving you a treatment plan.
3 reasons why personal development is a priority.
It develops your strengths
A personal development plan not only helps you to improve on your weaknesses, but it can also help you to develop your strengths. By taking time to focus on nurturing and using your strengths more, you go from being good at something to being excellent at it. You can reach your potential and achieve great growth by developing the skills you are already good at.
It forces you out of your comfort zone
If there are areas of your job that you do not like or are not good at, those are the weaknesses that a personal development plan can help you improve on. Confronting these areas and improving on them can help to push you out of your comfort zone. This allows you to experience growth and to improve your skills.
It improves your self-awareness
Personal development is closely linked to self-awareness. It gives you the opportunity to take an honest look at the areas of your life that need improvement. Through this process, you get to know who you really are, what your true values are, and where you would like to go in life. Once you go through this process, you will improve your self-awareness and experience fulfilment.