CHAD SWANZY

Corey M. shared an entry from a blog post on personal development. You can read the complete article here. For those of you who feel you walk dangerously on or beyond the line of being negligent with your values because you're sprinting to meet other people's needs, this segment of the post should intrigue you.

1. Do things your way. Live the life that you desire. Design a life and lifestyle that supports your personal values and needs. The secret to life if figuring things out that work for you and you alone. Prioritize each succeeding day around your re-found boundaries, goals, and values. In doing so, you will be living the life that you choose, and not a pre-packaged life that has been carved out for you by a so-called "authority" on the subject.

2. Spend a few moments each day in quiet reflection. Take the time to get to know yourself. Take a look around you and within yourself. Regularly reassess your goals and priorities. Write them down. You have tremendous pressure on you to constantly better yourself and to want it all and do it all. This pressure exists in your work, your community, your family, and with your friends and associates – and most especially in your mind. Take time to consider how you have responded to those expectations.

3. Be authentic – be yourself. Self-improvement is a process, not an outcome. It changes constantly, particularly at different points in your life. Wherever you are today is all right. Don't beat yourself up. Accept yourself and learn and grow from where you are. There's nothing wrong with aspiring to be in a constant state of total awareness, but you cannot even approach that goal until you've taken the time to look in the mirror and see what you need to see. Your true objective should be to inspire personal growth and positive change, moving you closer to what you want. If your aspiration is learning and growth and positive change, then you'll be just fine.