Holistic health and preventive health behaviors must form the basis of your personal development effort. Sustain your health through daily vigorous physical exercise; sound nutrition; limited food intake; challenging mental and social activity, and adequate rest. It’s never too late for behavioral change. You know what you must do, so do it! Build the body and the mind will follow.
It is helpful to have a personal guiding philosophy around which to structure your life. To develop your philosophy of life, first define your interests, values, and deepest truths. Write them down, and prioritize them in the order of importance. Translate these into goals which state how you wish the world to be. Under each goal, list three specific objectives needed to accomplish the goal. Under each objective, list at least three tasks needed to accomplish the objective. Your personal development will now be motivated by and congruent with your philosophy of life.
There are numerous online resources available for development of personal autonomy, health, self-awareness, self-knowledge, self-esteem, hard or soft skills, strengths, talents, employability, lifestyle, social skills, or other facets of yourself. Formal education, webinars, symposiums, conferences, and workshops will prepare you, but in real life you must apply both knowledge and behavior. Education can be regressive unless translated into behavior useful to you or others.
Ironically, learning by doing is progressive—it requires you to seek and find resources for growth and development. Development occurs when you commit your mind and body in pursuit of interests and goals. As you gain new competencies in life, you may find yourself in the role of teacher, guide, counselor, manager, life coach, or mentor.
May you continually strive toward your potential. May your potential remain just out of reach, lest you cease striving.