LifePal

Self-Development is the science and art of taking personal responsibility for one’s own learning and development through a process of assessment, reflection, and taking action. 

Self Development starts when an individual starts to access, believe and challenge self. To begin with you can start with some interesting ways to help you get more from life and then start accessing your achievement, believing in the fact that you can still gain more and take action to achieve that. 

Lifehacker has an interesting post on this today and the post lists down 4 strategies as

1.) Make it easy to get new information in.
Watching a TED talk or PopTech talk each day (7-23 minutes in length) is a great way to get started. Learning about what’s happening “out in the world” will better prepare you to engage with people in conversation, get to know what’s important to them, and be someone they trust for years to come. Complement your “world news” diet with these inspiring talks.

2.) Reach out and meet the people you can learn from in your community.
Want to meet someone? Reach out, call or write them a letter and ask for the introduction. Whenever I read a book, hear someone speaking on the radio, or am told about someone doing something incredible, I look them up, and invite them to meet over coffee. So what that not every person says yes…it works and I’ve met some amazing people!

3.) Pick up the phone and write a card to reach out and touch someone!
When I taught high school from 1995-2000, I called five students a day…every day. I talked with them—as well as their parents—sharing my enthusiasm for my “product,” and “sold” them on returning the next day engaged, prepared and ready to participate. Today, I send a minimum of one note card a day sharing my gratitude or acknowledgment for things people are doing. Who can you call or write today?

4.) Spend time sharing with a “listener.”
Share your goals, roles, plans and challenges with someone who will listen, accept and help you create new solutions for implementing your ideas. Sometimes just hearing yourself talk will inspire you to action!

The other interesting ways i personally use are

1.) Maintain a learning log which you can always go back to. It helps you analyze and track your learning progress.

2.) Try to write a personal vision and mission statement. It helps you stay focussed on your goals and needs.

3.) Become involved with Professional Organizations or Networking events. This will help you meet new people with like minded ideas. It also helps you get more ideas and learn from their experiences.

4.) Find a mentor who can provide you with support, advice, and assistance in your career direction. Mentors are great help and they can help you get their faster because of their experience and capabilities; therefore choose one with care.

5.) Read professional blogs and magazines of your subject. They help you stay connected with the latest developments.

What are the ways you follow to track and grow with your Self Development? Do share in the comments.

Also read: Ways to get more out of your Life

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams