PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

MODULE 1

• Your ideal self is the self that you aspire to be. It is the one that you hope will possess
characteristics like that of a mentor or some other worldly figure.
• Your actual self, however, is the one that you actually see. It is the self that has characteristics
that you were nurtured or, in some cases, born to have.
• The actual self and the ideal self are two broad categories of self-concept. Self-concept refers to
your awareness of yourself. It is the construct that negotiates these two selves.

Knowledge is required for setting goals, defining an action plan to achieve them and risk assessment.
Skills also determine whether real actions are performed in accordance with the plan. If the same
ability is used many times in the same situation, then it becomes a habit that runs automatically,
subconsciously. Here are some skills that will greatly increase the efficiency of any person who owns
them:

1. Determination. It allows you to focus only on achieving a specific goal without being distracted by
less important things or spontaneous desires. It may be developed with the help of self-discipline
exercise.

2. Self-confidence. It appears in the process of personal development, as a result of getting aware of

yourself, your actions and their consequences. Self-confidence is manifested in speech, appearance,
dressing, gait, and physical condition. To develop it, you need to learn yourself and your capabilities,
gain positive attitude and believe that by performing right actions and achieving right goals you will
certainly reach success.

3. Persistence. It makes you keep moving forward regardless of emerging obstacles – problems,
laziness, bad emotional state, etc. It reduces the costs of overcoming obstacles. It can also be
developed with the help of self-discipline exercise.

4. Managing stress. It helps combat stress that arises in daily life from the environment and other
people. Stress arises from the uncertainty in an unknown situation when a lack of information
creates the risk of negative consequences of your actions. It increases efficiency in the actively
changing environment.

5. Problem-solving skills. They help cope with the problems encountered with a lack of experience.
It increases efficiency by adopting new ways of achieving goals when obtaining a new experience.

6. Creativity. It allows you to find extraordinary ways to carry out a specific action that no one has
tried to use. It can lead to a decrease or an increase of costs, but usually the speed of action is
greatly increased when using creative tools.

7. Generating ideas. It helps you achieve goals using new, original, unconventional ideas. Idea is a
mental image of an object formed by the human mind, which can be changed before being
implemented in the real world. For generating ideas, you can use a method of mental maps, which
allows you to materialize, visualize and scrutinize all your ideas, which in turn contributes to the
emergence of new ideas. These are just some, but the most important personal effectiveness skills
which make the achievement of any goal easier and less costly.
MODULE 2

ASPECTS OF SELF

The self-concept is represented by several aspects of the self. It is conceived as collection of multiple,
context-dependent selves. This construct believes that context activates regions of self-knowledge
and self-relevant feedback affects self-evaluations and affect. A deeper look on the different aspects
of self can identify specific areas for self-regulation, stability, and improvement. In a nutshell, an
individual is composed of three basics but very different aspects of the self. They are the physical or
tangible aspects as they relate to the body, the intellectual and conscious aspects as they relate to
the mind, and the emotional and intuitive aspects as they relate to the spirit. All three aspects of the
self-work together in perfect harmony when attention is paid to all three simultaneously. Many
individuals put a strong emphasis on the physical aspect of the self. The body is tangible, obvious,
and we respond to it easily. More time and money are spent on enhancing the physical component
than either of the other two aspects. This does not mean, however, that the body is healthy or
strong. The body provides a place to house the spirit (often experienced as feelings) and the mind
(often experienced as thought). It may be important to some that their mind be prominent and well
educated. The mind is important, as it is the part of the self that directs the other two aspects. The
mind learns what to do and communicates the information to the body and the feelings. What the
mind believes, the body manifests or acts on, and the emotions feel, or respond with. People store
both healthy and destructive thoughts and beliefs and responds to life's circumstances in the most
prominent manner. The mind provides access creativity and serenity which are necessary for such
processes as prayer, forgiveness, acceptance, and passion.

A REAL WINNER is one who can:

• win over his/her battles and difficulties in life and turns them into a learning and glorifying
experience.

• find meaning in pleasant and unpleasant events in his life.

• live in peace with difficult people and difficult situations.

• win the goodwill of others, their respect and admiration.

• get what he wants using win-win strategies, never at the expense of others.

• discover and use opportunities to his best advantage.

• develop and use his talents and abilities to the best advantage and in so doing, make meaningful
contribution in making this world a better place to live in.

MODULE 3

Human Development focuses on human growth and changes across the lifespan, including physical,
cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional growth.

The study of human developmental stages is essential to understanding how humans learn, mature
and adapt. Throughout their lives, humans go through various stages of development.
The human being is either in a state of growth or decline, but either condition imparts change. Some
aspects of our life change very little over time, are consistent. Other aspects change dramatically. By
understanding these changes, we can better respond and plan ahead effectively.

Developmental Stage Characteristics

1. Pre-natal

(Conception to birth)

Age when hereditary endowments and sex

are fixed and all body features, both

external and internal are developed.

2. Infancy

(Birth to 2 years)

Foundation age when basic behavior are

organized and many ontogenetic maturation

skills are developed.

3. Early Childhood

(2 to 6 years)

Pre-gang age, exploratory, and questioning.

Language and Elementary reasoning are

acquired and initial socialization is

experienced.

4. Late Childhood

(6 to 12 years)

Gang and creativity age when self-help

skills, social skills, school skills, and play are

developed.

5. Adolescence

(puberty to 18 years)

Transition age from childhood to adulthood

when sex maturation and rapid physical

 development occur resulting to changes in

ways of feeling, thinking and acting.

6. Early Adulthood

(18 to 40 years)

Age of adjustment to new patterns of life

and roles such as spouse, parent and bread

winner.

7. Middle Age

(40 years to retirement)

Transition age when adjustments to initial

physical and mental decline are

experienced.

8. Old Age

(Retirement to death)

Retirement age when increasingly rapid

physical and mental decline are

experienced.

HAVIGHURST`S DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS DURING THE LIFE SPAN

Robert J. Havighurst elaborated on the Developmental Tasks Theory in the most systematic and
extensive manner. His main assertion is that development is continuous throughout the entire
lifespan, occurring in stages, where the individual moves from one stage to the next by means of
successful resolution of problems or performance of developmental tasks. These tasks are those that
are typically encountered by most people in the culture where the individual belongs. If the person
successfully accomplishes and masters the developmental task, he feels pride and satisfaction, and
consequently earns his community or society’s approval. This success provides a sound foundation
which allows the individual to accomplish tasks to be encountered at later stages.

MODULE 4

Physical Development
• Most girls have completed the physical changes related to puberty by age 15.
• Boys are still maturing and gaining strength, muscle mass, and height and are completing the
development of sexual traits.
 Emotional Development
• May stress over school and test scores.
• Is self-involved (may have high expectations and low self-concept).
• Seeks privacy and time alone.
• Is concerned about physical and sexual attractiveness.
• May complain that parents prevent him or her from doing things independently.
• Starts to want both physical and emotional intimacy in relationships.
• The experience of intimate partnerships

Social Development
• shifts in relationship with parents from dependency and subordination to one that reflects the
adolescent’s increasing maturity and responsibilities in the family and the community,
• Is more and more aware of social behaviors of friends.
• Seeks friends that share the same beliefs, values, and interests.
• Friends become more important.
• Starts to have more intellectual interests.
• Explores romantic and sexual behaviors with others.
• May be influenced by peers to try risky behaviors (alcohol, tobacco, sex).

Mental Development
• Becomes better able to set goals and think in terms of the future. • Has a better understanding of
complex problems and issues.
• Starts to develop moral ideals and to select role models.

Encouragement is the key ingredient for improving your relationships with others. It is the single
most important skill necessary for getting along with others – so important that the lack of it could be
considered the primary cause of conflict and misbehavior. Encouragement develops a person’s
psychological hardiness and social interest. Encouragement is the lifeblood of a relationship. And yet,
this simple concept is often very hard to put into practice.

MODULE 5

STRESS
• emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension is the feeling one gets from prolonged, pent-up
emotions

Causes and Effects of Stress:

• Anxiety
• Pressure
• Misery
• Strain
• Desperation
• Tension
• Anger
• Panic
• Dejection

1. Everyday frustrations cause stress build-up

Emotional turmoil
• unable to get needed rest

2. Problems in our personal life can be devastating

3. A common cause of stress is dealing with life’s transitions

STRESS RESPONSE
• is the collection of physiological changes that occur when you face a perceived threat
• the emotional or physical symptoms of uncontrolled stress.

Stressors
• situations where you feel the demands outweigh your resources to successfully cope.
• the factors of which create the stress in your life.

When your stress response is triggered, a series of changes occur within your body. They include:
• Redirection of blood away from extremities and instead to major organs
• The release of cortisol and other hormones, which bring other short- and long-term changes.
• The stress response is intended to give you a burst of energy so you’re able to fight off attackers or run
away from them effectively.

MODULE 6:

BRAIN wrinkled, pinkish-gray, three pound organ that is primarily composed of fat and water  control
system of the body  sends electrical signals telling you how to move

Three major parts:

1. Brain Stem -connects the spinal cord and the brain. -involuntary actions -controls functions that keep
people alive such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and food digestion.
2. Cerebellum -controls voluntary movement.
3. Cerebrum -responsible for thoughts and feelings -is the largest of the three brain sections, accounts
for about 85 percent of the brain's weight, and has four lobes.

4 LOBES:
1. PARIETAL LOBE -helps understand what people see and feel
2. FRONTAL LOBE -determines personality and emotion
3. OCCIPITAL LOBE -vision functions
4. TEMPORAL LOBE -hearing and word recognition abilities
NEURONS -basic functional unit of the nervous system
DENDRITE-entrance
AXON-exit
 THE DOMINANT SIDE OF THE BRAIN

LEFT DOMINANCE
• Classical music
• Being on time
• Careful planning
• To consider alternative
• Being thoughtful
• Monopoly, scrabble, or chess

RIGHT DOMINANCE
• Popular music
• A good times
• To visualize the outcome
• To go with the first idea
• Being active
• Athletics, art, or music
Mind mapping is a powerful thinking tool.