This article was originally published on SuccessNet.org in May of 1996.
The US Army had a slogan a few years back. It was, “Be all you can be!” With regard to personal development, I would alter it slightly. I would say, “Be all that you ARE!” I say this because too often when people think of improving themselves, they think that they aren’t OK as they are. They think that they need something else in order to be right—to put something on top of who they really are.
The key may be found in the word “development” itself. Development is the opposite of ENvelopment which means to fold over and cover up. DEvelopment means to uncover and bring forth what’s already there—much like the development of a photograph (remember those?). In the case of photographic development, the process merely illuminates the picture which is already inherent within the photograph. It doesn’t add to it, it draws it forth into a more useful form.
If we look at our own personal development in this way, instead of feeling like we have to change into something else, we’ll feel better about ourselves, make more progress and certainly feel more genuine.
I believe that it’s our responsibility to make the best of our earthly existence and to be constantly developing who we are. Someone once wrote, “Your life is God’s gift to you, what you make of your life is your gift to God.” It’s incumbent upon us to uncover and DIScover all that we are.
I wish you the best in your commitment to personal development and living your best life.
Best Life Tenet: When You Get Better, Your World Gets Better.
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