A Journey of Liberation
Develop Yourself, Part 1 of 6
“Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and good things will be yours.” – A Swedish Proverb
In exploring the idea of starting a business, learning about what it takes, and understanding what you want to get out of it, we have reviewed in depth the tenets of making decisions, taking action, failing frequently, and listening intently. Now we’re going to tie them all together by diving into the premise that all of these have actually contributed to you developing yourself: your skills, your knowledge, your behaviors, your mindset. However, it’s one thing to understand that merely by happenstance you have come to be, do, and have more. It’s now time to actively choose to develop yourself and to understand what that means and what that requires.
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” Jim Rohn
What exactly do I mean when I say ‘develop yourself’? I mean, make you the focal point of your life! Not in an egotistical way or a selfish way, but in a way that acknowledges you are the raw material that you have to work with in this world and that anything that happens originates with you. When you develop yourself you can give more, share more, inspire more, contribute more, lead more. That’s not selfish! Hopefully, that’s powerfully compelling! The only thing it requires of you is for you to decide to make the focal point you.
Before you buy a new bedroom suite on layaway, before you buy a house with no money down, before you send your kid to baseball or football camp, before you send money to your grandkid for a new phone, before you commit to funding a vacation for the extended family, figure out what you need for you. Don’t wait for January 1st to make a New Year’s resolution that you won’t keep anyway. Look at today and make a decision to be different, today. If you have a job, find out what your company offers for tuition reimbursement and take some classes. Find out if you are eligible for training programs, whether it’s learning how to use Excel or getting your Commercial Driver’s License. You don’t have to know where it will lead. Just do something different, something that teaches you a skill you never had before.
Join Toastmasters and learn public speaking. See if your health plan at work covers part of the cost of a gym membership and start exercising. See if your company’s wellness program will improve your knowledge of nutrition and living with (type 2) diabetes. Get together with a friend and create a bucket list, then go someplace you’ve never been before but always wanted to go.
Not only will you learn and grow, but, more importantly, you’ll also develop the habit of making things happen. Once you do it, you’ll do it again, because you know you can. You can make a plan and take action. You can grow. You can achieve. You can have fun. Maybe you’ll even meet that special someone because now you radiate something different, something energizing.
Now that you have a different view of yourself, tell someone. Developing yourself means not only liking yourself more, enabling you to grow, it also requires you to start sharing the news. To invite new relationships and new opportunities, you have to let people know what you have to offer. In other words, you have to get comfortable marketing yourself. If that feels unnatural or repulsive, consider the other side of the equation. How can anyone put you to work usefully if nobody knows what you have to offer? By marketing yourself you’re not bragging or trying to make yourself appear better than you really are. You’re doing someone else a favor by having the courtesy to share something about yourself that someone else might find useful.
Marianne Williamson sums up perfectly the concept of developing yourself, and at risk of repeating a quote you are already very familiar with, I will share her inspiration again:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Seek the light. Don’t play small. Shine and be liberated. You will make a difference in your world, your country, your community, your family, and in your own life when you develop yourself and discover that you are powerful beyond measure. Whatever you decide, begin it now and enjoy the journey of your life!
Beaufort resident Jamie Wolf is the author of ‘Start Over! Start Now! Ten Keys to SUCCESS in Business and Life’ and ten accompanying guidebooks. If you’re ready to be Master of your Fate and Captain of your Soul, she invites you to come on board! Jamie offers online courses and coaching for entrepreneurs and people interested in starting over or in starting their own business. Visit her at http://www.thestartover.com
