Rant Ahead
Self Development or Is it self-inflicted pain?
Self-development or is it self-inflicted pain?
I am ALL for self-development.
It is genuinely one of the things I advocate for in almost every conversation I have. Learn something. Improve yourself. Develop your skills. Read. Take the course. Try something new. Become a better version of yourself.
YES!
I'm here for all of it.
My problem with self-development is...
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO HARD?!
Like... WHY?!
Why does growing as a person have to feel like another full-time job?
Because I'm already juggling A LOT.
I'm taking care of the house.
I'm taking care of the kids.
I'm trying to figure out my career.
I'm trying to keep up with everything happening in life.
And then, on top of all of that, I'm supposed to develop myself?!
Oh, okay.
😭
So when exactly am I supposed to rest?
Because apparently rest is not part of the self-development plan.
And somehow, if I'm not learning something new, improving a skill, exercising, reading, working on a project, taking a course or trying to become a better version of myself, I start feeling guilty.
WHY?
Why can't I just exist for a minute?!
Why do I have to constantly be working towards something?
And the biggest question I have is...
Why does growth sometimes have to hurt so much?
Why do I have to inflict pain on myself for me to grow?
Why does becoming better sometimes feel like I'm fighting myself every single step of the way?
I understand that growth requires discomfort.
I KNOW.
You don't learn anything by staying in the exact same place forever.
But can we PLEASE acknowledge that sometimes the discomfort is just... A LOT?!
There are days when I'm sitting there trying to motivate myself to finish a course, work on a project, exercise, learn something new and improve my life, and another part of me is just screaming:
GIRL, CAN WE SIT DOWN?!
🙄🤣
And I think that's where I'm currently at with self-development.
I still believe in it.
I still want to grow.
I still want to learn.
I still want to become better.
But I also want to stop treating myself like a machine that needs constant upgrading.
Maybe self-development doesn't always have to look like doing MORE.
Maybe sometimes development is learning how to rest.
Maybe it's learning how to say no.
Maybe it's accepting that you can't do everything at the same time.
Maybe it's giving yourself permission to have an ordinary day where you're not trying to become a better version of yourself.
Maybe that is growth too.
Because honestly...
Oh, someone HELP ME.
Someone SAVE ME from the shackles of self-development! 😩
I'm tired!
I just want to sit down and be mediocre for five minutes!
And then I'll get back to improving myself tomorrow.