Being the best that you can be

Start developing by first knowing yourself.

Are you looking for a career change? Having difficulties in communicating with others so that your message is taken seriously? Well, you are not the only one.

Believing in yourself is a choice. It’s an attitude you develop over time. It is your responsibility to take charge of your own self-concept and your beliefs. It might help to know that the latest brain research now indicates that with enough positive self-talk and positive visualization combined with the proper training, coaching, and practice, anyone can learn to do almost anything.
You must choose to believe that you can do anything you set your mind to.
Self-knowledge is the starting point on the journey of self-development, which leads to self-success. Self-knowledge gives us a window onto our potential. It indicates where our strengths lie, what things we are naturally good at and how we might combine our natural gifts with the opportunities around us.
For change to occur to your advantage, you need to be in the driving seat. The starting point for your journey of self-development is you. Looking at yourself, your strengths, likes and dislikes, preferences, and skills is an essential first step in your self-development plan.

Your true passion
The secret to finding your strengths is to do what you love. Steve Jobs, legendary founder of Apple Company, said: “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.
Madiba wrote “The greatest glory in living lies not in ever falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Your personality

Your personality is the set of characteristics that don’t change during your life but can develop in healthy and positive directions. Your personality characteristics also indicate what things you will find come naturally to you.

Jobs and personalities

Back to Steve Jobs, as he said earlier, there is nothing more satisfying and enriching than to find work that matches our strengths. When we do this, our potential to grow and succeed is unlimited. John Holland suggests that, when you choose a career or job, it should reflect the things you like to do.

Values and life centers

Some people are lucky enough to perceive their talents at an early age, perhaps at school or in the family. Others come to them slowly after a process of wrong turns and failings. Others may not come to self-knowledge until late in life when they suddenly see with blinding clarity where their lives have been taking them. The important point to remember is that, at whatever point it comes, it is always possible to turn self-knowledge into self-realisation.

If you are going to be successful creating the life of your dreams, you have to believe that you are capable of making it happen. You have to believe you have the right stuff, that you are able to pull it off.You have to believe in yourself. Whether you call it self-esteem, self-confidence, or self-assurance, it is a deep-seeded belief that you have what it takes – the abilities, inner resources, talents, and skills to create your desired results.

Best of luck to you.

By Mazala D S Zulu