Those of us who travel regularly on airplanes are capable of giving the attendant’s spiel about safety on a jet in case of emergency. One thing that has always fascinated me is the line about putting on your own oxygen mask first, before attempting to help someone else. The point is, in an emergency, you are not able to help someone else if you are not healthy and strong yourself.
The same is true in our lives and ministries. We must be strong or we are incapable of helping others. We must be inspired before we can inspire someone else. We must be strong before we can lift someone who is weak. We must be spiritually mature before we can reach out to someone in need.
Many of us often find ourselves in situations where we want to help others but we just don’t have enough spiritual oxygen. We quickly discover that if we have not been looking after ourselves and breathing the right air, we’re incapable of assisting others.
The last few years have seen many people spin out of control and crash in a sea of embarrassment, after they had appeared to achieve success. For a while, financial attainment or corporate position masked the lack of personal integrity and character strength, but in the end, character flaws precipitated a downfall. It is relatively easy to attain position and status without the character to back it up, but in the long run, true character is always revealed. Character always wins.
Here’s the bottom line: if you want to be successful five years from now, work today on yourself more than you work on your job skills. Skill development is important, but internal character development is a must. It is far more demanding to work on yourself than on something you do. However, it is more important to work on what you are becoming than on what you are doing at your job. What you become will ultimately determine your success. Who you are will determine your staying power.
Job promotion and financial remuneration rarely, in the long run, exceed personal character development. Yes, some people have achieved momentary success but as we’ve seen, many have self-destructed because of character flaws.
The need is for personal development. Personal development is a fancy phrase that describes an ongoing process of personal growth, development and maturation. It means paying attention to who you are.
There are many aspects to personal development including skills, finances, spiritual life and character development.
Personal development is not complex but it is tough because it requires discipline.
Personal development is not quick; it’s a long-term process of growth. Personal development is a lifelong commitment. There is no ten-day program. There are no short cuts to becoming the person you are meant to be. Development, change and maturity are a lifelong path.
Personal development is not optional; it’s a requirement for success in life, in your career and in your ministry.
Personal development brings deep satisfaction. It’s the only way to real, lasting, powerful and rewarding change.
So how do we go about personal development?
Determine what you want to become. Examine the life of Jesus and let that be the standard for what you strive to become. Personal development is incomplete apart from becoming Christ-like.
Dream. Don’t limit yourself. Create a personal mission statement that fully describes what you feel God wants you to become. This mission statement will clarify what’s really important, who you think you are, why you are here, and where you want to go.
Take inventory. This can be the hardest part. List your strengths and weaknesses. Come to grips with who you really are and how you measure up against the character values of Scripture. Don’t compare yourself with others; measure yourself by the life of Jesus. Have a sane estimate of who you are.
Get beyond the self-deception barrier. Don’t get so down on yourself that you are depressed. But don’t deceive yourself so that you are blind to what really needs to change.
Set specific goals. Write down short-term and long-term goals. Write down what you want to develop or eliminate, things like humility, outspokenness, gossiping, a sharp tongue, insensitivity, truthfulness, transparency, integrity and your work ethic.
Remember that personal development is a work of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit are the qualities that we need. Allow the Spirit to work in your personality. Sow to the Spirit each day. Follow the promptings and nudgings of the Spirit.
Do some research. Find out where to get help. Identify the places, schools, seminars, conferences, mentors, books, blogs, etc. — that offer what you need. For most of my life I have disciplined myself to read a book a week or 50 books a year. Many of these books have dealt with character issues and personal development.
Develop a plan. Although you’re aiming towards a long-term lifestyle change, what you do in the short-term is going to affect the long-term outcome. Write a short-term plan for the next year, and a longer-term plan for the next 5 years. These don’t have to be that complex; just list two or three things you want to do.
Commit to your personal development plan for the rest of your life. Remember it is a process. Be prepared to invest time in self-evaluation as well as skills development. Begin today to take action to turn your goals into habits for everyday living.
Create a culture of personal, continuous improvement. Make it a lifestyle. Personal development is what you eat, dream and think. Design a lifestyle that will align with your values and beliefs. Look at what is working in your life and what isn’t. Describe those things that need to change to be the person you aspire to be. Network with people who can help you get where you want to go.
Assess your progress. Make sure your actions, plans and goals stay in alignment. Guard against the plateau effect. Keep working and keep making progress.
Commit to your plan and start to take action. Once you’ve made a plan, commit to taking the first steps immediately.
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