Personal Growth

[Aggie]

People change and develop throughout their lives.

Yes, they do for as long as they still are unable to come to terms with their legacy. I had that problem, too! Yet, once they discovered, developed and fulfill their true needs things turn amazingly stable.

I'm intrigued by the concept that one would ever want to stop changing and developing.  I find it almost unimaginable, since I define myself by change.  I must admit that the magnitude of the changes I am making has become smaller... it has become more of a refining process than making gross shifts in philosophy.

I find this concept difficult because I seek novelty in my life constantly, especially for food (and beer)!  I also try to teach myself new things.  I have a hard time understanding how I could get to the point where I wouldn't change myself for my own amusement, even if for no other reason.

Is is not ideal to change with new experience?

[Alpaca]

Ooh, now there's a fun question, Aggie.

I'm 16. Changes galore! I don't have to seek novelty - it comes to me.

Everything is a new experience.

Maybe the "stopping point" is really a turning point, when you become the one to go out and seek new experiences. I dunno, 'cause I ain't there yet.

[Aggie]

Hehe... 16 was my 'starting point' (there was some prep before that, but I used to say that who I am started at 16).  You are already several years ahead of me at that age, or at least how I perceived myself at that age. 

[Alpaca]

Well, thank you, but I know that I have plenty of room for growth yet, and not many laurels to rest on.

I'll press on with the ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

[Aggie]

Well, thank you, but I know that I have plenty of room for growth yet, and not many laurels to rest on.

I'll press on with the ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

Yeah, even being several years ahead of me at 16 only gets you to your early 20's.  I changed a lot in the last 4 years.

[Griffin NoName]

I believe some people continue to develop/change, others don't. Some people stick at one point and not another.

"Yet, once they discovered, developed and fulfill their true needs things turn amazingly stable."

My view is  "Yet, once they discovered, developed and fulfill their true needs, that's when change can really get going". Read Carl Rogers, read the Humanists, read Maslow. Especially Maslow. Then delve into the Transpersonal. There's a whole country out there.

Or have I misunderstood? Does amazingly stable mean a stability from which to continue exploring?

[jjj]

I'm intrigued by the concept that one would ever want to stop changing and developing.

Once we discover, develop and fulfill our inherited true needs, we achieved the most important part of personal development. Anything after this stage I call improvement/ amendment. Of course life's many details change constantly; just as we change different shirts. Our genetic make up remains the same. Sometimes people discovered their talent only in their retirement, when the have got time on hand. It's a bit late to discover one's talent of dancing or singing, then... 

[Bruder Cuzzen]

I'm intrigued by the concept that one would ever want to stop changing and developing.

Once we discover, develop and fulfill our inherited true needs, we achieved the most important part of personal development. Anything after this stage I call improvement/ amendment. Of course life's many details change constantly; just as we change different shirts. Our genetic make up remains the same. Sometimes people discovered their talent only in their retirement, when the have got time on hand. It's a bit late to discover one's talent of dancing or singing, then... 

The painter Grandma Moses is an exception , she started VERY late , I imagine there are more notables .

[Griffin NoName]

I'm intrigued by the concept that one would ever want to stop changing and developing.

Once we discover, develop and fulfill our inherited true needs, we achieved the most important part of personal development. Anything after this stage I call improvement/ amendment.

I personally don't hold this view. I don't believe it's all to do with inherited true needs and I understand personal growth as significantly different from improvement/amendment. The jury is still out on nature v. nurture and a whole host of other aspects of human development. I really do recommend Maslow to you as this gives a broader view.

As to retirement, this can be early these days, mid 50's in some cases, and go on for 40 years. Depending on circumstances so much is possible, but it's not just about body, it's attitude of mind too. I can personally attest to that.

It'd help me if you would answer my question: "Or have I misunderstood? Does amazingly stable mean a stability from which to continue exploring?" because I am unsure how much of an issue language is in the way of shades of meaning.

[anthrobabe]

Well, thank you, but I know that I have plenty of room for growth yet, and not many laurels to rest on.

I'll press on with the ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

yet again I am impressed with our "kiddos" around here, I truly had no clue when I was 16- no way to even express my thoughts other than doing some really negative acting out. ( I swear it is something to do with internet and world wide access and reading and speaking to children like people-that helps with this)
I''ve got a 16 year old daughter- and she impresses me as well ( and it's not just mommy love either)-

I think that you will have laurels aplenty oneday.

but the thought that when one stops changing (ie:growing, learning, developing on all levels) one ceases to really exist on so many levels is so true. I'm still in college, etc-- I'm never quitting!

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Perhaps I am misreading but I associate that concept stability as the discovery of dogma: "I have found the truth and I don't need to explore anymore". I am personally very bothered by dogma or the attitude of those who have found the 'Truth' and are reluctant to even consider other truths. I do recognize that with time we tune our beliefs in certain ways, but always with an open mind.

To me, the moment we stop listening and honestly considering other thoughts we are truly dead.

[Opsa]

That's how I feel about it too, Zone.

A body is mature when it has ceased to grow. Should we say the same of the mind?

[Darlica]

Think about this:
There are situations when movement is what create stability.
The slower you go on a bike the harder it is to keep the balance, the same when paddling a kayak.

I think life is a balance act, you have to have enough speed through it to keep stable and be able to steer (no speed no steering, right) but you can't move too fast or you loose the ability to control where you go.

I hope I'm going to continue to grow as a person for a long, long time; being able to change when I realize when I need/want to, step up and do things I didn't thought I was able to and then let the experience evolve me.
I also want to learn by my mistakes and give others the opportunity to learn by them too. I think that the day I stop wanting to learn is the day I cease to grow it will also be the day I start to die.


I don't believe in one way, or one method, or one truth. -What is right for one person could be a catastrophe for someone else.

What I do believe is that if more people realized that we would live in a much happier world.

[jjj]

I personally don't hold this view.

I didn't believe it either and (earlier on) and even believed that talents can be 'acquired'... through lots of  practice.

Does amazingly stable mean a stability from which to continue exploring?"

The exploration of one self's true needs, unique abilities and talents goes on for ever (or longer) until we are almost certain that all inherited values have been discovered etc.
Mind you, whilst we all inherited mental, emotional, physical true needs and unique abilities, not all of us inherited a talent or several.

Sure, we can always expand/ amend our mental horizon by reading/ learning, as for instance learn an additional language or acquire any other skills, insight etc;, but in everything we do our inherited, unique abilities or talents are going to play a roll in the quality of the same.

That Czech professor I mentioned (at the age of 49), told me: 'I'm still trying to come to terms with my legacy and I'm not sure if I ever will succeed, but I'll never give up'... That says it all.

[Scriblerus the Philosophe]

JJ, your use of "legacy" is a bit puzzling to me. Would you care to explain it to me?