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Personal development, self
development, self growth, self help
–
these are all terms that can be used somewhat interchangeably to
describe an industry that has been often
maligned, but which is also growing exponentially and now seems poised
(with the advent of such phenomena as the film The Secret), to
enter a new stage of heightened growth and mass consciousness.
The Critics ...
Critics of the personal development industry will
assert that the ideas expressed within self help books and by
inspirational speakers are misleading. They will suggest that
such programs offer "easy answers" that don't hold up to practical
scrutiny and in fact prey upon the inherent psychological
susceptibility of people.
Cynics suggest the only people being helped by
the self growth books on the market are the authors who wrote them.
Or they argue that many of the principles behind personal development,
such as Law of Attraction, are based on pseudo-science and without
validity.
Personal Development Is A Genuine
Movement
Yet for all of the detractors, there is a
genuine movement afoot. And it is clearly based on something
people perceive as "real". Something definitely is going
on:
people's lives are being transformed.
And regardless of
what critics may think of someone such as, say Tony (Anthony) Robbins
–
who has in a large way shaped the modern personal development industry
–
there is no denying that he has helped thousands upon thousands of
people live better, happier, more successful lives.
Personal Evidence
And we need
look no further than our own lives to find evidence of the
transformation that is possible through the active practice of
personal development.
Since leaping
into the study and practice of personal development in 2004, we have
personally witnessed a tremendous transformation. We replaced an
executive income with a home based business, have become happier
people, better parents, created an unencumbered lifestyle where we are
free to do what we want without asking permission from someone or
asking to be allowed to take the time to do so, feel good about
ourselves, help other people, and have nearly tripled our net worth.
So there is
one thing we can say based on our personal experience
–
the principles and daily practice of personal development and self
growth absolutely work. |
