Personal development: how you can develop yourself

Personality development does not only take place in our childhood, but throughout life. With a few tips you can influence it in a targeted manner.

Lots Character traits have been fixed in us since childhood, for example:

• Are we shy or open?
• Are we more willing to take risks or are we afraid?
• Are we conscientious or messy?

It is often assumed that these properties no longer change much in the course of life.

How the personality develops

Jule Specht, professor for personality development at the Humboldt University in Berlin, contradicts this statement with their scientific research.

• As the University of Münster reports, the research of Specht shows that personality will last a lifetime changed. Particularly big changes happen up to the age of 30 and from the age of 70. According to her, drastic experiences such as starting a career, getting married or entering retirement can change personality.
• In one ZEIT interview Specht confirms that people become more agreeable, helpful and forgiving in the course of their lives, even if their openness to it decreases.
• She also suggests that around 30 to 50 percent of personality traits can be traced back to genes. In addition, there is the environment, which we choose ourselves to a certain extent and which also influences our personality.
• Specht also states: Emotionally stable people who are doing well often find it easier to tackle new challenges – in contrast to people who may have become more anxious as a result of strokes of fate.

Reading tip: You can read more about Jule Specht’s research in her book “Character Question: Who We Are and How We Change”. Ask about it at a bookstore near you. You may also find it used, for example in a swap shelf. Or you can search for it online, for example ** at buch7.de, buecher.de or Thalia.

That means personal development in concrete terms

So the personality can change – but it is also possible targeted? Yes, that is called “personality development”. For example, she can help you:

• Yours Strengths and weaknesses get to know better.
• Yours Limits to get to know and appreciate.
• say no to learn
• Your Strengthen self-confidence and learn to deal with criticism.
• Appreciative to be yourself.
• Better deal with it if you Making mistakes.
• More open and curious to become.
• Crises to manage something.
• Self-efficacy and Resilience to learn.

Note: Personal development is not about “perfecting” yourself. Instead, you can get to know yourself better in a self-respecting way. It’s about increasing your comfort zone. You will notice how much you can achieve if you take the initiative yourself. For example, if you are afraid of making a mistake at work, act proactively: Welcome mistakes as far as you can and see them as an opportunity to expand your knowledge.

Personality development: three phases, how you can approach concretely

To develop your personality, you can use the three steps “self-knowledge – self-acceptance – self-change”. Make a note on your smartphone or use a small notebook in which you can write down your observations and goals.

1. Self-knowledge

Reflect on the following questions over several days or weeks without evaluating:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Which talents distinguish you or what is typical for you?

Also ask people who know you, value you and are honest with you. They can describe observations to you that you might not have thought of yourself.

2. Self-acceptance

This point is particularly important for personal development. If you want to develop and change yourself, you need the courage to perceive and accept your personality and your limits.

An example: If you are more of an introvert but want to learn to get into conversation with strangers more easily, look for practice situations where you dare to step out of your comfort zone. In this way you remain true to yourself and treat yourself appreciatively: It may be easier for you to start a brief conversation with the seller at the market than to approach a stranger at a big party.

• We have in our article “Learn to love yourself“Some practical ideas for you on how to learn to love yourself.
• Perfectionism is also not appropriate when it comes to self-acceptance. There will be no X day when you can love yourself forever. However, it is a good basis for you to make sure that you are your best friend or your best friend. This is how you can learn to value yourself.

3. Self change

This is the phase in which personal development takes place. Be specific aimsthat you want to achieve within a certain period of time. It is best to write down your goals and formulate them as specifically as possible. It is helpful if you understand your goals in

• short term Goals (achievable in the next few weeks),
• medium term Goals (achievable in three to six months)
• and long term Set goals (achievable in a year or two).

Goals can be habits, behavior patterns, but also activities. Don’t list more than one or two goals per category. Hang the note above your desk or on the bathroom mirror so that you can see it regularly.

You can find out whether your goals are realistic on SMART principle check:

Your goal must

• S.specific (clearly formulated),
• M.edible (which criteria define success?),
• A.attractive (motivating),
• R.ealistic (available for you) and
• Tbe erminated (set to a certain time frame).

So don’t make a goal of becoming a confident person within a month. Instead, you can plan to give a presentation in the office within the next four weeks or go to an event where you will meet new people Getting to know people.

Personality development and its limits

Remember: Personal development is never complete. Don’t lapse into perfectionismso as not to lose motivation and enjoyment of development.

Because what matters is that you follow this path in harmony with yourself and your environment. If you want to develop your personality further, do it without tension. Instead, keep your motivation in mind and enjoy small success stories.

Read more on Techzle.com:

• Mindfulness: The difficulty of being in the here and now
• Self-motivation: How to overcome your weaker self
• Gratitude: 8 Ways to Become More Grateful and Satisfied