Personal Responsibility in Development of Self Voice and Mind

Self-development is a gradual and conscious process of improving oneself. It is about taking personal responsibility for one’s own learning and development. This can be done through a process of assessment, reflection and action.

In order to improve our self, we must know our strengths and weaknesses. We must assess ourselves. This can be done by taking a paper and pencil and writing down all your strengths and weaknesses. You can also do these assessments through computer programs too though the accuracy is always questionable. The program will ask you to answer a few questions and will give an analysis based on your answers.

You can also keep a log or diary to help you analyze about yourself. You can take cues from past experience. They give you an insight into the kind of person you are. Your behavior and actions in the past can be noted down and you can try to dissect your mind and know yourself from that. Once you have analyzed your strengths and weaknesses, you can mark the areas where you think you need to improve. From this point, it is completely up to the individual to chart out a plan for self-development. This is very subjective and cannot be generalized. Some individuals can have a vision or mission statement and can work towards it.

Others can develop a comprehensive personal development plan that identifies their needs and goals. Based on this plan, they can channel their efforts and work towards achieving their goal. Some others can be comfortable having a mentor who can guide them and support them with advice and assistance. Whatever way each person chooses, they have to ensure that they achieve their desired goals.

The most popular technique is to use an Individual development Plan (IDP). This document describes each individual’s personal developmental goals. And it discusses how they can be accomplished. Many companies like Defense Information Systems Agency/National Communication System (DISA/NCS), Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA), Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistical Services (NASS) and Presidential Management Intern (PMI) Program use this technique to motivate their employees. It begins with the employees. They have to assess their level of performance and their abilities with the required competencies. The employee also has to chart his/her developmental strategies. This document then goes to their immediate manager for review. After successful review, the IDP is implemented. This plan goes a long way in motivating employees, knowing their needs and to make them highly competent.

Meditation is another popular technique for self-development. Meditation is the process by which an individual concentrates on a particular object or thought. This is an opportunity to delve deep into the inner-self to identify the causes of conflicts in your mind. It will also help you to know and understand yourself better.

Self- development is an ongoing process. Self-development leads to self-confidence and self-reliance. You will have the confidence to face the world. You will be in a position to stand up and talk against what you think is wrong. Above all, you will learn to believe in your self and in your abilities as an individual. You can become completely self-reliant. Your dependence on external forces for emotional support and stability is drastically reduced. This is because you have identified your problems and the ways and means to achieve them consciously and you are working towards it. So, you are not perturbed by criticism from others. You believe that you know about your self much better than they know about others. So, you completely shut yourself to other’s thoughts on you. You feel very confident and you are at peace with the world around you. Self-development is a sure way of finding the elusive inner peace and tranquility.