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Personal Development

BY: T. Franklin Murphy  | February 2021 (modified January 20, 2023)

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To flourish, we must progress, not stagnating in the present. We must establish a pattern of improving mind, spirit and body.


What is Personal Development?

Life is dynamic. We live in a sphere of complexity. The recipe for human flourishing would be simple is life was static. It is not. The rules keep changing. Feedback loops are mysteriously concealed, diluted by unrecognized factors. We may be on a roll, doing everything we know we should do, and still get spanked by unforeseen misfortunes.

A part of the answer to flourishing is fostering a growth mindset, dedicated to personal development. Here at Flourishing Life Society we devote much of our efforts to provide insightful explorations into ways to develop and sharpen individual skills, thinking, and efforts to experience greater joys and fulfillment.
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Personal development is a process, not a crowning achievement. Personal development is the process of assessing skills and qualities, considering life objectives (values), and setting goals to realize and maximize potential.


​Personal Values and Personal Development

Personal development is, well, personal. Certainly there are plenty of general categories to assist in our unique journey of growth. However, our innermost desires (values) must significantly play into the equation.

​ "The key to personal development is taking the right steps — steps that help ensure that you reach whatever goal you are pursuing." ~Tchiki Davis, MA, PhD  |  Berkley Well-Being Institute

​Unless we know what we want, what gives us purpose, it is impossible to devise a plan to get there. Values seem to curiously hide from superficial inspections. We need a more consciousness examination, mindfully attending to events and dreams that bring joy. Only through careful attention to our reactions do we begin to zero in on the things that bring personal fulfillment.

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Successful development requires a goal and a workable plan.


​We Need A Plan

Personal development isn't a haphazard process. We need a target and well designed plan. A person's system of goals, strategies for motivation, and surrounding support systems make or break dream fulfillment.

Flourishing Life Society focuses on many aspects of the personal development process. Our expertise lies in the realm of psychology and human wellness. We offer a variety of articles on psychology, wellness, relationships, and achievement. This page is one of Flourishing Life Society's key topic areas with article links updated frequently. 

May your flourishing journey in personal development bring joy and happiness.
​
T. Franklin Murphy
T. Franklin Murphy
Wellness. Writer. Researcher.
​T. Franklin Murphy has a degree in psychology. He tirelessly researches scientific findings that contribute to wellness. In 2010, he began publishing his findings.
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​Other Flourishing Life Society articles of interest on this topic:
We live in a dynamic environment. When planning, we can't account for all possibilities. We must be flexible.
Whole Person Wellness. A Flourishing Life Society article link
Possible Selves. A Flourishing Life Society Psychology definition. Article link
Internal Link: Achieving our potential...Healthy growth depends on supportive environments. As adults, we must create an environment that provides nutrients and protection.
Keeping on trck when life obstacles interfere
FLS Link. Realistic Optimism: Optimism brings energy to action, motivating persistence in the face of difficulty. Our wellness benefits most from optimism when it is based in reality.
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Flourishing Life Society  Link. Trials of Life
Small moments in life can pull our minds from careless wandering, creating rejuvenating moments of flow, full of purpose and wonder.
Living a Virtuous Life. A Flourishing Life Society article link
FLS link. Passionate Purpose. We need passionate purpose to energize our flat lives, giving fire to existence and joy to routines.
Eudaimonia: Living Well and Doing Good. A Flourishing Life Society article link
Flourishing Life Society article link. Building Resilience
Flourishing Life Society Link. Article Delay of Gratification. Delaying gratification is not from a strong will to resist, but skilled use of techniques to weaken temptation.
A Flourishing Life Society article image link. Self Determination
A Flourishing Life Society article link. Fear of Failure
Entire Personal Development Data Base
Personal Development. A Flourishing Life Society article data base link
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