Why Self-Development ?

By Jayaram V

This article is incomplete. To read the complete article you may purchase the book Think Success now available in two volumes

Should we try to live a life that is not ours? Should we always try to be what we are presently not? Is living a progression from one point to another or simply being and experiencing? Why it is that society worships "doing" but scorns "being"? Should we always strive to live our lives according to some fixed formula? Should we continuously live with the nagging feeling that we have to keep on improving and changing, as if we have never left behind our childhood and our school days? Should we believe that we are presently leading imperfect and incomplete lives that need improvement, as if we all are cursed by some unknown force to live imperfect, incomplete and unhappy lives? Questions such as these arise in our minds, when we begin to view self-development subjects with cynical and critical attitude.

It is true that in many ways we are imperfect and incomplete. There is no denying of this truth. The feeling gets more intense, as we become more idealistic in our vision. The very fact that we have progressed upon earth, both physically and mentally, in the last few thousand years and are still undergoing transformation, presupposes that there much in us, which is yet to evolve and become perfect. Nowhere is it more profoundly reflected than in the field of sports, where the previous records are broken with such monotonous regularity. The very idea that we can transform our minds and bodies and improve our means, methods, techniques, awareness, intelligence, knowledge and skills, with determination and effort, makes self-development effort an exciting and empowering prospect in our lives and plans.

Most people, who have cultivated particular interest in their personal growth, must have read many inspiring articles and books on self-development. While reading them, they might have even felt motivated to change themselves and become what they dream about. But what happens after that initial spike of enthusiasm?
In the beginning, after reading some exciting self-help material that is relevant to our needs, we become highly motivated and remain for a while very enthusiastic and determined to put it into practice, thinking of possibilities, seeing opportunities, making decisions and even drawing plans...