In our bustling life, we barely get a chance to talk to ourselves. Every day, every moment, we are either occupied with celebrations that resulted from accomplishing something or mourning what we have failed to attend. Both ways, we put emphasis on developing ourselves for the trend, context, and under the impression of the foreseeable future.
But by personal development, we only highlight our monetary gain whereas the majority of us overlook developing our existential significance— personal development does not necessarily involve honing skills or taking measures to climb the stairs of success only, but it exponentially illustrates who you are, defines your authenticity, and your willingness to maintain unconditional relationships. Without them, you are just 18 gm crisps inside a 180 gm pack— mostly empty.
Investing in personal development transcends beyond the individual character, but only when you are confirming your authenticity. It strengthens our purpose of existence, propels the reason to be someone’s smile. This inner journey takes us to the doorway of what could be the best of us; no mask, no disguise. The truth. And there is nothing more satisfactory than being true to ourselves. More like seeing yourself in front of the mirror— being a non-biased self-critic. There is no doubt being able to unearth the dark side of ourselves in an attempt to rectify pulls out the gem, the best in class. While it ensures peace of mind, reflecting on core values that make us human radiates an aura appreciated by everyone. It supports our confidence, adds to our potential.
Understanding the individual potential works like magic. It’s like having a compass that directs us towards the treasure men would give their lives for; an awakened aspiration that matches choices of a lifetime.
But uncovering the authentic self isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon of a long day stuffed with obstacles at every bend. Mastering the art of self-criticism requires courage, confidence, and resilience. You have to achieve it step by step going beyond temptations and fear. And to do so, we seek guidance from our dear ones— worshipping the sacredness of unconditional relationships.
As you embark on this perilous journey, you subconsciously add more bricks to the foundation of your success defined by self-growth and respect. The more you reflect on your inner characters, the more discover your connections to the surrounding people, people you care about. Eventually, it resonates with your empathetic mind that sleeps deep inside all of us but only a few can awaken it by cultivating emotional intelligence. And we all know emotionally sound souls foster a sense of purpose in their lives. The rest of us only run after immediate transformations that are not only volatile but also a maze of uncertainty. As a result, our mind never settles; we never become capable of weathering life’s greatest storms.
But once we tame our inner self to focus on unveiling authenticity by nurturing relationships, both individual and collective, our actions become intentional— we learn to walk even on a tightrope if it promises a sense of fulfilment. We learn to live beyond sorrow, losses, and greed that hold us down all along.
So, are we up for working on our authenticity? If personal development is our concern, I guess, this comes first. Feel free to disagree.
Yeo Yonghwan on Unsplash