Proven success factors of highly successful people include having a personal improvement plan and sticking to it. This example personal development plan will provide a structure and template for personal improvement. Focusing on one aspect of personal growth each week for nineteen weeks will typically bring significant cumulative growth benefits.
Personal Development Begins by Building Awareness
Self awareness is a fundamental component of personal growth. The first half of this example plan is devoted to building self awareness. The second half extends personal growth to the outside world.
- Week One – The personal development planner should begin by taking an honest and detached look at her life. What areas of life are working well? Which areas deserve improvement? Once grounded in current reality, develop a life vision.
- Week Two – Discover or clarify life purpose this week. Everyone has a purpose in life, a set of behaviors and demonstrated life qualities which, when lived, bring meaning and purpose to living. Reflect on this throughout the week and write down a personal understanding of life purpose under the caption "My Life Purpose Is."
- Week Three – This week the personal growth enthusiast should focus on personal strengths and passions. What are the activities that are always enjoyable, easy, and bring excellent results? List these under the title "Personal Strengths and Passions."
- Week Four – Learn to meditate. Take a class, read a book, or research meditation on the Internet.
Month Two of a Sample Personal Development Plan
With one month of personal development completed it's time to move on to even greater self awareness. Be open to new insight and understanding, while refraining from judgments about the past.
- Week Five – Learn the art of living in the present moment. Life is a series of present moments which are lived in an instant and then lost. Read The Power of Now this week (New World Library, 1999).
- Week Six – Practice self awareness of behaviors and personal qualities this week. This week notice the qualities or characteristics being demonstrated during daily activities. Are these consistent with the personal development vision of week one?
- Week Seven – Focus on core beliefs and values. Starting with the phrase, "This I Believe," capture deeply-held core beliefs. Repeat for "These Are My Top Values."
- Week Eight – This is the week to face and overcome limiting fears. Personal growth often involves moving out of one's comfort zone. Acknowledge the fears that are limiting growth and decide to move ahead with courage.
Personal Growth Continues in Month Three
This month introduces some tools of personal development.
- Week Nine – Devote this week to all things positive. Refrain from all forms of negativity, including negative self-talk, demeaning jokes and gossip, criticism, whining, and complaining. Acknowledge the negative, then look for improvement opportunities.
- Week Ten – Learn effective goal setting techniques in support of the personal development vision and plan. Research the SMART process and apply it to this plan.
- Week Eleven – Be grateful and appreciative this week. Express appreciation and gratitude for the basics of life as well as any special benefits enjoyed.
- Week Twelve – This is the week to focus on self care. Decide now to take better care of both physical and mental health aspects of daily life. Make definite commitments and set goals.
Personal Development Planning Shifts Outside of Self
With inside work well underway it's time to shift the focus.
- Week Thirteen – Increase self awareness of time utilization by starting a time and activity log. Briefly record all activities, accounting for increments as small as fifteen minutes. At the end of each day determine if the time was well spent and supportive of the personal development plan.
- Week Fourteen – Become a generous listener. Listen carefully to understand what is being said and the underlying emotions. Learn to reflect back both the thoughts and emotions, confirming the speaker was heard.
Improving Relationships and More
This month introduces aspects of personal development which can be difficult. Be courageous and watch the ensuing growth.
- Week Fifteen – Focus on improving relationships. Life's greatest satisfactions come from relationships. Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of each relationship.
- Week Sixteen – Practice generosity. Being generous benefits the recipient of generosity and the giver. Being generous to others is an easy way to become happier.
- Week Seventeen – Set personal boundaries. It's important to not only identify personal boundaries but to learn how to communicate these to others.
- Week Eighteen – This is the apologies and forgiveness week. It's time to make long-overdue apologies for behaviors that were hurtful to others. This is also the week to forgive—forgive self and forgive others.
- Week Nineteen – Reflect on the past few months of personal growth. Notice both the gains and areas where growth was slow. Build a custom personal development plan for the next four months by modifying this example plan.
The Effective Personal Development Plan
This example self improvement plan provides a basis for personal development which utilizes proven success factors of highly successful people: having a vision, a plan, and executing the plan. Customize the example plan for even greater effectiveness. A Sample Personal Development Program provides supporting information for the topic of focus in each of the nineteen weeks.
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Readers may also enjoy The Complete Process for Finding Career Success along with What You Need for a Balanced Life and Goal Setting for Personal Development.
Jerry Lopper - IPPA member, business and engineering degrees. Jerry's passion for personal development shows in 5 books, hundreds of articles & ...
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