TO BE ...
What is the most important in life?
Whereas the answers might vary to some extent, I am positive that they have something in common- the word BE. Let's borrow a phrase from Mr Fromm and set a simple question: "To HAVE or to BE?". For the majority, the ultimate goal is to BE. HAVE are only the tools of bringing the BE things- be happy, be a good person, be successful, be loved ... Society trough all these HAVE related triggers to us with false promises that after having done certain money-making things for them, we are going to BE happy. The ones who bought it ... end up miserable.
What is a Personal Development?
A life-style, a market-niche for others, nothing at all? It is all and nothing. If personal development means devotion towards constant improvement of life- it is all. If it is an unrealistic wish that the salvation will come in a form of a spoke-person, book or an audio programme- it is nothing but an empty promise. It might serve as an inspiration, but there are no short-cuts to personal development, it is a constant strike to improve life quality, to be a better person and to cope with life in a more constructive way.
All the self-announced messiahs, I-know-it-all gurus and other brain-washer will leave their followers with nothing less than an emptier wallet and delusional minds.
Personal development is not an instant thrill or a revelation. It is a hard work of improving the strengths and limiting weaknesses in order to make the quality of life better. The terms even suggest, that it may not be a bad idea to do the SWOT analysis of one's' life ... Indeed, introspection of any kind is the whole driving force of personal development.
Why do we want to become better?
To improve the quality of life, I guess. But what comes after we change? Let's assume that someone is eager to make a change in life and that drives his or her actions. But what comes next, after the aim is achieved? Happiness or a new obsession? If the ultimate goal is to BE, people should execute their action-plan of becoming a better person in a way that they ARE happy after achieving a certain level.
But are they? The happiest people I know have one thing in common- they do what they believe in and enjoy what they have achieved and most importantly- they feel good about themselves. While some can praise themselves with respectful social position, good fortune and real devotion to grow as a person, the others live a simple life and enjoy the every-day-things.
Once again- how to achieve the desired BE?
By doing what you believe in and what you feel good and right about. There is no universal way to personal development, self-satisfaction and desired life quality. The answer lies within each person and every one of us. External things can help us realise what we want and are tools towards getting on a right way, yet, only an introspection can help us to figure out what is our "BE".
Simply enjoy life, feel good about yourself, do the things you believe are right for you and do not let anybody intellectually force you to believe that you NEED an improvement. The key towards achieving the BE is to WANT.
No obligation, no punishment, no force, threats and terror- simply excitement to BE what you always wanted to BE ...
That is the engine of becoming the desired BE and to enjoy it.
