The self-development industry in USA alone generates $1 billion in revenue every year. In 2008 Deepak Chopra made $1.3 million through a book and speaking tour where the core message was :to take responsibility for your own actions.
I had this book. It didn’t help me to find my purpose in life.It’s in the bottom of the pond in my old house.The new owners filled up the pond with soil. So I am sure the worms enjoyed it.
The main force behind the self development industry is that we as humans have to strive to better ourselves in all aspects of our lives. Why should we? We are also told by the same personal development masters( read Brian Tracy and Antony Robins), that we are unique and magnificent humans.
I disagree with a lot of this. I do also know that for some people this is exactly the message they want to hear. Fair enough. Do whatever it takes to be yourself.
In my years of attending different personal development seminars and reading books on the same subject I have realised a few solid principles. I want to share them with you.
1.You are what you do daily. You are not your country, your religion or the smart goals that you are setting for yourself. You are not your magnificent intentions either, thank you very much Mr Chopra for this.Whatever you do daily frames you in many incredible ways. It is the small daily actions that you take that determent the person that you are and the results that you are getting.
2.You will never get it all done As much as I don’t want to I know now that life is in constant motion. Change is the only sure thing in life. No matter what I have completed, there is always something else next.Next task, next challenge and next reward. So for as long as I breath I will keep going and do my best to enjoy the climb!
3.You are free to make a choice. Yes, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice. In any given situation you have a choice including the choice of going with the flow. This is the choice that I take in 90% of my life. I don’t see myself as an Alpha Female. It feels much more natural to me to be following the invisible flow of the seen and unseen things, rather than trying to demand anything.
4.You are here to give and receive Love. The only thing that will disappear once you die will be the love that you have been giving and receiving. The rest is replaceable and sadly disposable. So while you are here give and receive love in whatever way possible you find fit.
5. Gratitude is the magic state of being alive. The next level is grace. This has nothing to do with any religion. This is simply a way of being human. It took me years to appreciate the importance of that state. I have been very ungrateful at certain times in my life and the ripple effect of my actions then still affect me from time to time.
Overall I believe that you can get more self-development results if you simply start being more present in your life and with the people around you.
Thank once again for reading this far.
Enjoy the ride and drink nice coffee,
Ivelina
