How did you start in personal development?
My love of personal development I think stems from my spirit in overcoming obstacles. A lot of people go through life with what you might call a "victim mentality" - they see themselves as not always having control over their own outcomes, being unable to change, and being forced to take whatever life dishes out at them without influencing the outcome.
I know a lot of people like this, but I first realized I was different in Grade 8 when we had to take a swimming test for a school field trip. There were two opportunities to take the test, and the first time I took it, I was totally humiliated. I knew that I was a poor swimmer but I was quite athletic so I figured I would try it out anyways. I ended up passing the distance swim just on grit but I didn't know how to tread water well and a lifeguard ended up saving me as I grabbed onto another student to try and avoid drowning.
I spent the whole summer learning how to swim and I was able to re-take the test in September. I passed both aspects of the test this time and I was able to go on the field trip and do activities like swimming and canoeing with all of my friends - what a great time! Going through the process of learning and improving was also very formative for me - I realized that if I needed to change myself and grow into a new competency that I would be able to. I didn't need to be afraid of being inadequate - I could just grow into a better person.
Have any of you folks had experiences that were similar - a moment when you realized that you didn't have to settle for the way things are, that you could actually have an influence on outcomes? What was your experience like? For me, it was very empowering to know that I had found success where I had previously failed and that I had grown and gotten better. I'm doing very well in my Freelance business and next time I pay myself I actually want to get private swimming lessons so I can get even better at swimming.
How and when did you start down the path to personal development? Was there an event that triggered it? What was the event and how did you respond?
I know a lot of people like this, but I first realized I was different in Grade 8 when we had to take a swimming test for a school field trip. There were two opportunities to take the test, and the first time I took it, I was totally humiliated. I knew that I was a poor swimmer but I was quite athletic so I figured I would try it out anyways. I ended up passing the distance swim just on grit but I didn't know how to tread water well and a lifeguard ended up saving me as I grabbed onto another student to try and avoid drowning.
I spent the whole summer learning how to swim and I was able to re-take the test in September. I passed both aspects of the test this time and I was able to go on the field trip and do activities like swimming and canoeing with all of my friends - what a great time! Going through the process of learning and improving was also very formative for me - I realized that if I needed to change myself and grow into a new competency that I would be able to. I didn't need to be afraid of being inadequate - I could just grow into a better person.
Have any of you folks had experiences that were similar - a moment when you realized that you didn't have to settle for the way things are, that you could actually have an influence on outcomes? What was your experience like? For me, it was very empowering to know that I had found success where I had previously failed and that I had grown and gotten better. I'm doing very well in my Freelance business and next time I pay myself I actually want to get private swimming lessons so I can get even better at swimming.
How and when did you start down the path to personal development? Was there an event that triggered it? What was the event and how did you respond?
Cheers, Laurence.
Writer/Editor/Proofreader.
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