What Investments Are You Putting Into Yourself?

[electroBeam]

I've been in personal development for a while. I've always had this airy fairy idea of PD. Something like you're a blank photograph, and PD is like the liquid that develops you.

And I've been very proud of my developments in the past, all of the work I've put into myself to improve my being and character.

But I've never questioned exactly how I've improved, or what exactly has been improved of myself.

And what I came up with, after contemplating for 8 hours straight, is that PD is a total joke. All those lofty concepts, like becoming a better communicator, better at pickup, better at <put something else here> is all just ideas. Makes me laugh. 

Even if self development is real, and you do learn some real skills in it, what are these skills going to achieve for you? Honestly developing a new skill seems exactly like buying a car, or some other materialistic thing.

Like what exactly are you guys investing in, when you say you're investing in yourself? Are they real? Or do they just sound cool to you, and you don't really know what it truly is. 

And what's the point anyway?

From my perspective, which of course is probably totally stupid and inaccurate, but anyway, it seems to me that the only developments you can make to your well being only happen right NOW. But maybe I'm wrong, what exactly are you guys trying to work on? And Why? What is it going to do for you?

Edited May 26, 2017 by electroBeam

[Loreena]

How about spiritual development. Becoming  more rational, matured, calm than before. Change or shift in paradigms and perspectives. That's a part of growth. It's about getting wiser with time. With PD, you pack up more knowledge in less time.

[Dan Arnautu]

That's a very black and white way of looking at it. Dropping 30lbs of fat and putting 30lbs of muscle isn't just a ”lofty idea”. Getting more empowering friends isn't just a lofty idea and improving your finances isn't a lofty idea. An investment is something that gets you more than what you paid for it. Clothes deprecciate. They don't add money to your pocket. They are a liability. A good book on the other hand can save you 100's of years of mistakes.

You are free to live on the street, be 400 pounds, die at 25 and live alone masturbating all day to porn.

[Epiphany_Inspired]

This thread tittle made me think of life as a buffet. Imagine standing there with your plate, what could you choose? Do you go to the un-healthy habits section, or chose some goals, values, etc instead...do you add the consciousness sprinkles, or choose slathering in chimpy dressings and syrups...lol....

[Damir Elezi]

For me, it's the fact that I recognize that my mind is highly dysfunctional. All I actually want is to be content, peaceful and happy, but that seems like the hardest thing ever, having a society always at your ass, pushing you to do some bullshit to pay your bills, PLUS dealing with all kinds of personal issues, from relationships that hurt me to all kinds of bad habits which rob me of my energy. Trying to get out of this, get rid of this dysfunctional bullshit and trying to turn my own life into something I can really enjoy 99% of the time is my definition of Personal Development. It's not about some skill for me, it's about dealing with life, which would constantly keep me depressed if I didn't do anything about it. 

[Joseph Maynor]

Eliminating addictions, loving myself, nurturing positive motivation, actually doing my scheduled tasks, constant mindfulness.

Edited June 8, 2017 by Joseph Maynor

[Shin]

Self-developement is about seeing through and erasing your limiting beliefs/neurosis by doing practical work which brings wisdom.

So, if you think you're gonna make it without that, either you're a spiritual genius, or you're bullshitting yourself.

Edited June 8, 2017 by Shin