pers:personal_development

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pers:personal_development [2026/03/16 10:00] – Simon Grantpers:personal_development [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Personal development+This topic is part of [[gt:learning|Learning & personal development]]. 
 +====== Personal development ======
  
  
-![](personal-development.jpg)+![](wiki:personal_development.jpg)
  
 --- ---
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-## What is personal development?+===== What is personal development? =====
  
 This topic is inward-looking, concerning our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual (although labelling and defining this one is difficult) health and well-being. However, these things influence, and are influenced by external factors such as environment, information, community and work. This topic is inward-looking, concerning our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual (although labelling and defining this one is difficult) health and well-being. However, these things influence, and are influenced by external factors such as environment, information, community and work.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Physical+==== Physical ====
  
 Physical development is about our bodies, but also the physical world and our interaction with it. Individual development is a bit pointless if our species is destroying the ecosystem of our home planet. So it’s about maximising physical health, but not the quantity of physical, material things we possess. We reject personal development as a means to make more money so that you can buy more or bigger things. This isn’t ‘development’, just materialism. However, for many in the world, personal development involves a struggle to obtain adequate food, water, shelter etc. Physical development is about our bodies, but also the physical world and our interaction with it. Individual development is a bit pointless if our species is destroying the ecosystem of our home planet. So it’s about maximising physical health, but not the quantity of physical, material things we possess. We reject personal development as a means to make more money so that you can buy more or bigger things. This isn’t ‘development’, just materialism. However, for many in the world, personal development involves a struggle to obtain adequate food, water, shelter etc.
  
-### Mental+==== Mental ====
  
 Mental development represents intellectual growth – the truth-seeking of philosophy, not just knowledge acquisition or training. Philosophy also encompasses ethics and critical thinking, tapping into a bank of human experience that includes socialisation and moral teachings. Mental development represents intellectual growth – the truth-seeking of philosophy, not just knowledge acquisition or training. Philosophy also encompasses ethics and critical thinking, tapping into a bank of human experience that includes socialisation and moral teachings.
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-### Emotional+==== Emotional ====
  
 Human emotional well-being depends on co-operation with others in communities. We, along with all primates, are social animals – it’s not possible to develop as an island – only together with your fellow humans. It takes a ‘village’ to raise a child, but also to maintain emotionally-balanced adults. Human emotional well-being depends on co-operation with others in communities. We, along with all primates, are social animals – it’s not possible to develop as an island – only together with your fellow humans. It takes a ‘village’ to raise a child, but also to maintain emotionally-balanced adults.
  
-### Spiritual+==== Spiritual ====
  
 Spiritual development will mean different things to different people, and isn’t really measurable. Life is ‘just a ride’, as the late Bill Hicks used to say, and apart from the fact that spirituality is the opposite of materialism, perhaps the best we can do is to come to peace with the fact that as humans, we can recognise it when we feel it, without being able to define it precisely or to ascertain any deeper purpose in life. Spiritual development will mean different things to different people, and isn’t really measurable. Life is ‘just a ride’, as the late Bill Hicks used to say, and apart from the fact that spirituality is the opposite of materialism, perhaps the best we can do is to come to peace with the fact that as humans, we can recognise it when we feel it, without being able to define it precisely or to ascertain any deeper purpose in life.
-### Maslow+==== Maslow ====
  
 It’s difficult to leave out Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) from an introduction to personal development. His famous ‘[hierarchy of needs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs)’ is shown here, with physical needs at the bottom and self-actualisation at the top. It’s not possible to achieve the higher levels without having secured the levels beneath. It’s difficult to leave out Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) from an introduction to personal development. His famous ‘[hierarchy of needs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs)’ is shown here, with physical needs at the bottom and self-actualisation at the top. It’s not possible to achieve the higher levels without having secured the levels beneath.
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 {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/personal-maslow.jpg }} {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/personal-maslow.jpg }}
  
-### Religion+==== Religion ====
  
 The core messages of the main religions are not contradictory (although this isn’t necessarily reflected in the official organs of those religions). The Vedic Scriptures spoke of the [Oneness of everything](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman) (which [cutting-edge science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory) appears to support), and the need to let go of ego to reunite with the Oneness. The major religious prophets focused on ways to do this – Taoism stressing harmony, balance with nature and the rest of existence; Buddhism, enlightenment; Christianity, love; and Islam, submission. Similarly, Quakers stress simplicity, truth, equality (of opportunity, rather than of unique talents) and peace. The core messages of the main religions are not contradictory (although this isn’t necessarily reflected in the official organs of those religions). The Vedic Scriptures spoke of the [Oneness of everything](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman) (which [cutting-edge science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory) appears to support), and the need to let go of ego to reunite with the Oneness. The major religious prophets focused on ways to do this – Taoism stressing harmony, balance with nature and the rest of existence; Buddhism, enlightenment; Christianity, love; and Islam, submission. Similarly, Quakers stress simplicity, truth, equality (of opportunity, rather than of unique talents) and peace.
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-## What are the benefits of personal development?+===== What are the benefits of personal development? =====
  
-### Physical+==== Physical ====
  
 The benefits of physical development are health (and therefore less stress on health services), resilience, greater capacity for physical work and for survival in case of disaster. Plus living with physical simplicity means a lower impact on nature. The benefits of physical development are health (and therefore less stress on health services), resilience, greater capacity for physical work and for survival in case of disaster. Plus living with physical simplicity means a lower impact on nature.
  
-### Mental+==== Mental ====
  
 Mental development means more critical thinking – crucial in identifying and dealing with the problems that are heading our way in a world in which [nature is degrading](/ntre/nature) so rapidly. It means an increased capacity for problem-solving, for onesself, one’s community and for humanity. Mental development means more critical thinking – crucial in identifying and dealing with the problems that are heading our way in a world in which [nature is degrading](/ntre/nature) so rapidly. It means an increased capacity for problem-solving, for onesself, one’s community and for humanity.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Emotional+==== Emotional ====
  
 Emotional development can mean greater personal resilience in the face of stress, grief or suffering, and stronger bonds in community, with better relationships that can make conflict resolution easier, resulting in more peaceful communities, and ultimately, reducing the risk of war. Emotional development can mean greater personal resilience in the face of stress, grief or suffering, and stronger bonds in community, with better relationships that can make conflict resolution easier, resulting in more peaceful communities, and ultimately, reducing the risk of war.
  
-### Spiritual+==== Spiritual ====
  
 However you define it, spiritual development can promote non-materialism and inner and outer peace. However you define it, spiritual development can promote non-materialism and inner and outer peace.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 The basis of a low-impact humanity is individuals. It’s ultimately down to each of us to develop ourselves, in an ongoing process that lasts a lifetime. First, love yourself. This may be difficult if your self-esteem was damaged by childhood experiences. Therapy might help (in fact, it really can’t hurt – for anyone), including [nature therapy](/natt/nature_therapy). The basis of a low-impact humanity is individuals. It’s ultimately down to each of us to develop ourselves, in an ongoing process that lasts a lifetime. First, love yourself. This may be difficult if your self-esteem was damaged by childhood experiences. Therapy might help (in fact, it really can’t hurt – for anyone), including [nature therapy](/natt/nature_therapy).
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-### Physical+==== Physical ====
  
 For the body, this means: For the body, this means:
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 It’s also about our effect on the physical world. We can live more simply by [downshifting](/down/downshifting) and living in harmony with nature. A very important part of personal development is bringing our individual [ecological footprint](/ecoc/eco_carbon_footprints) to one planet or less. It’s also about our effect on the physical world. We can live more simply by [downshifting](/down/downshifting) and living in harmony with nature. A very important part of personal development is bringing our individual [ecological footprint](/ecoc/eco_carbon_footprints) to one planet or less.
  
-### Mental+==== Mental ====
  
 Mental health is reliant on physical health, caring relationships and meaningful work. Mental development involves [philosophy](/phil/philosophy) - reading, talking, thinking, learning - not just education to slot into the economic system. Studying political philosophy will help you understand the nature of [democracy](/demo/democracy) in the modern world. Mental health is reliant on physical health, caring relationships and meaningful work. Mental development involves [philosophy](/phil/philosophy) - reading, talking, thinking, learning - not just education to slot into the economic system. Studying political philosophy will help you understand the nature of [democracy](/demo/democracy) in the modern world.
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-### Emotional+==== Emotional ====
  
 Here are some ideas for emotional development: Here are some ideas for emotional development:
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 - think of all the people who’ve loved you, liked you, respected you, helped you; - think of all the people who’ve loved you, liked you, respected you, helped you;
 - don’t accept any form of domination, and don’t try to dominate. - don’t accept any form of domination, and don’t try to dominate.
-### Spiritual+==== Spiritual ====
  
 If you accept that life is ‘just a ride’ and that we have to submit in the end, there’s an argument that true spiritual development is about preparing for death - [_memento mori_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori). When we look back, what will we think of our contribution? Does our work benefit our community and other people; is it in harmony with nature, or does it contribute to social and environmental damage? If so, the [time to change](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/topics/) is now. Don’t be afraid of failure – see it as a learning experience. You only live once (maybe). If you accept that life is ‘just a ride’ and that we have to submit in the end, there’s an argument that true spiritual development is about preparing for death - [_memento mori_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori). When we look back, what will we think of our contribution? Does our work benefit our community and other people; is it in harmony with nature, or does it contribute to social and environmental damage? If so, the [time to change](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/topics/) is now. Don’t be afraid of failure – see it as a learning experience. You only live once (maybe).
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 {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/personal-holbein-skull.jpg }} {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/personal-holbein-skull.jpg }}
  
-### System change+==== System change ====
  
 It can be argued (and we are arguing) that modern consumer capitalism has a negative effect on nature, on philosophy, on community and on spirituality. Nature is being eaten by our economy; philosophy has been superseded by economics; corporate branches suck wealth out of commmunities; and materialism is encouraged over spirituality. Every type of meaningful personal development is made more difficult by the current system. It can be argued (and we are arguing) that modern consumer capitalism has a negative effect on nature, on philosophy, on community and on spirituality. Nature is being eaten by our economy; philosophy has been superseded by economics; corporate branches suck wealth out of commmunities; and materialism is encouraged over spirituality. Every type of meaningful personal development is made more difficult by the current system.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:learning|Learning & personal development]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/learning). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Ecopsychology UK](https://ecopsychology.org.uk/) - inquiry and practice into how we make a radical change in relationship to self and other - [Ecopsychology UK](https://ecopsychology.org.uk/) - inquiry and practice into how we make a radical change in relationship to self and other
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[comy:Community]] - [[comy:Community]]
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  • pers/personal_development.1773655231.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/16 10:00
  • by Simon Grant