What do you do if you are struggling to find personal development tools for your growth?

Know yourself. Trust me, no one understands you better than you. You are your biggest project ever. Work on yourself. You know what are your strengths and areas of improvement. We all are naturally great at a few things and that is how we can collaborate. LinkedIn is a powerful platform for connecting with the right people and for the right guidance. Seek guidance. There are hundreds of free personal development tools on the internet. LinkedIn, Google, Microsoft and Amazon. Research, finalise your action plan and take action.

Knowing your goals is crucial because it defines what you should measure. Consider it like a blood test - there are many numbers, but not all are currently relevant to you. Imagine you're trying to lower your cholesterol. You wouldn't focus on your iron levels, even though they're part of the results. Instead, you'd zero in on your LDL and HDL numbers. The same principle applies to personal development. There are countless things you could measure, but focus on the key metrics that align with your specific goals. Identify those north star numbers, then seek out tools to help you track and improve them over time. Let your goals guide your metrics

Most succinctly, I will say you have all of the tools that you need. I think beginning with honest self-assessment about where it is you feel your "growth" is needed & what is unsettling to you about your life is a start. While tools may help facilitate your growth, the real work still has to be done by you. Life is asking you to do the hard work of facing yourself and dig deeper. For starters, just finding practical ways to reconnect with yourself - take time for nature walks, move your body, bring leisure and play back into your life. These are tools open to you that can help you tap into what may really be going on inside you. Make time to reconnect with self & I believe you will start to realize your personal power to guide your growth.

Feeling overwhelmed by self-improvement advice? Don't worry, we've all been there. The key to unlocking your potential lies in finding resources that resonate with YOU. Know Yourself: Are you an auditory learner who thrives on podcasts? Or maybe you're a visual learner who needs charts and videos. Once you understand your learning style (think audiobooks vs. workbooks), you can explore targeted resources. Goals Galore: Is public speaking your Everest? Look into courses offered by universities or professional organizations. Maybe productivity is your quest? There are tons of apps and time management books to help. Remember: The best resources are the ones that click with YOU.

You stop trying to force something and let whatever you need come to you. Breath is your best friend, centre yourself and focus on what needs you. Go out into the world and offer what you can to help others. Smile at the supermarket, do what you haven’t done and keep meaning to, reply to messages you’ve left unanswered, call someone you’ve been thinking about. Get out of your head and into life itself. That is where the magic and action happens. Growth is dependent on your engagement - you find out what you love that way, you inspire others and create opportunities for your next step up. Keep playing with life. Maximum growth happens on the border of challenge and support - look at what you’re avoiding and challenge yourself to tackle it!

The best personal growth tool that you can use? Yourself. Yes, you heard me right. ONLY you can make the plan, act on it, move forward, overcome obstacles, and enjoy the process. You are the machine that will move you forward, the map that will indicate your destinations and the force that will overcome anything that comes your way. So the next time you think about what tools you can use, first consider what is already next to you.

In addition to considering the delivery format that works best for your learning style, also consider the teaching or coaching style used. Some people, especially adult survivors of complex childhood trauma, find some common teaching and coaching strategies unhelpful or even stressful. If you've been struggling to find the right personal development tool, it might be beneficial for you to use material created by someone with trauma informed expertise. In that case, search for programs or coaches that explicitly mention their expertise in this area. Look for professionals who are certified in trauma-informed practices or who discuss how their methods are designed to be sensitive to trauma survivors

When embarking on personal development, it's essential to begin with what you have at hand. This might include online tutorials, books, or even local workshops. Once you've exhausted these immediate resources, it's time to delve into more specialized and comprehensive learning materials. Trusted websites often provide high-quality resources tailored to specific skill sets, offering valuable insights, tutorials, and courses. By leveraging these recommended sources, you can deepen your knowledge and expertise, ultimately propelling yourself to new heights in your field of interest.

People often make the mistake of consuming self-improvement content endlessly without evaluating their progress. Listening to countless podcasts or reading stacks of books is not a true measure of personal development. To properly gauge your growth, use assessments tailored to your specific goals. This could be a comprehensive survey like the University of Arkansas employee climate survey, or simpler assessments from an app. The key is to have a way to objectively track your progress and results, rather than just relying on the volume of content you consume. Regular self-assessment is crucial for meaningful personal development.

Adopting an experimenter's mindset is crucial for long-term personal development success. Continuously learn, adapt, grow, and adjust your strategy based on assessments and data. Revisit your approach every 3-6 weeks to ensure you're on track. Remember, personal growth is a lifelong journey, not a quick fix. Stay flexible, curious, and self-aware as you fine-tune your tools and techniques. Embrace the process of becoming your best self, one experiment at a time. With persistence and an open mind, you'll discover what works best for you and make steady progress towards your goals

Reflect on where you would like to be with your personal development goals and identify who has walked your path. Network and seek support from mentors, peers, coaches who have been through a similar growth journey. More importantly, consistently evaluate, try and see what works for you. When you face setback, gain awareness on the gift from that challenge. Ultimately, just like any goal, it takes prioritisation, dedication and patience to commit to consistent action to working toward your goals.

Don't get discouraged on your personal development journey. Be kind and compassionate with yourself. Everyone struggles and faces setbacks sometimes. What's important is to maintain a growth mindset, stay curious, and keep putting in the effort to learn and improve. Beating yourself up or engaging in negative self-talk will only hinder your progress. Instead, practice self-compassion. Treat yourself with the same understanding and encouragement you'd offer a good friend. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Forgive your mistakes and failures, and view them as opportunities to gain wisdom. The more self-compassionate and non-judgmental you can be, the more resilient you'll become.