Be Open – Confidence and the Personal Development Mindset

This post appeared first in the blog at my WiseWolf Personal Development Coaching Website

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE OPEN?

Personal development means being open, honest and transparent, not least with ourselves. It means being able to accept our own weaknesses and when something has gone wrong having the strength to apologize and to explain. Personal development means being open to new ideas - thoughts and opinions of others. Sometimes you need the grace to agree to disagree.

Being open is not without risk but then all personal growth is accompanied by some kind of challenge.

BUT HOW DO YOU TAKE THAT FIRST STEP?

Understand first of all that it may be a little uncomfortable and then try these tips

Try to be relaxed when discussing new ideas, rather than having an immediate reaction.
Start to challenge your own preconceptions – next time you find yourself about to express an opinion take a step back and spend a few minutes thinking through the opposite point of view. Accept you could be wrong!
Start to listen more carefully and be sure to let the other person finish speaking before you launch in. Use active or reflective listening to understand and clarify their ideas
Work on taking a different perspective. When you encounter a new idea do some real research and make sure you understand it, before you express a view.
Spend some time with a community that has a different culture from your own– you could do this through volunteering
Learn a new skill or take up a new hobby and, as you are learning, work on being honest and open when you make mistakes
Encourage your family, your friends and your work colleagues to tell you honestly what they think and then value what they say. Don’t punish them for thinking differently to you.
Next time you get something wrong, find someone to tell and ‘fess up – tell them the truth and practice saying sorry.
Learn to accept uncertainty – for lots of big questions there are no perfect answers – that is life. Having a personal development mindset means we learn to accept life as it really is.

Start to be open and enhance you personal development today!

I would love to hear about your progress and, if you need support from a coach, you know where to find me!

Wendy Mason is a Life and Career Coach. She helps people have the confidence they need to be successful at work and to change career. You can email her at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com

Other Useful Articles

Friday Recipe - Catalan Fish Stew - Rick Stein

Friday Recipe - Catalan Fish Stew - Rick Stein This is an everyday Catalan fish soup that is more like a stew and has several variants. Like so many Catalan dishes, it starts with a sofregit of fried garlic and tomato. A hearty Catalan fish soup; a meal in bowl. Catalan fish stew Ingredients 6 tbsp olive oil 1 large Spanish onion, chopped 2 fennel bulbs, chopped 150g/5oz chorizo, diced 1 red chilli, finely chopped 1 tsp fennel seeds, ground 2 cloves new season garlic, crushed ½tsp sweet paprika powder 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves 1 tsp saffron strands (optional) 3 fresh bay leaves 1 tin plum tomatoes 100ml/3½ fl oz fish stock or water 150ml/5 fl oz white wine 500g/1 lb 2oz mussels, cleaned 650g/1 lb 7 oz firm white fish (bream, pollock, cod, monkfish), filleted, dredged in flour and fried in olive oil 100g/3½ oz toasted almonds, ground To serve 1 lemon, cut into wedges steamed potatoes and spring greens Preparation method

4 Myths about Comforting Friends

I found this useful and interesting post by Maura Kelly on the Marie Claire website! 4 Myths about Comforting Friends In two recent posts, I've talked about the advice grief educator Val Walker gives on how to help friends who are dealing with the end of a relationship , whether from a breakup or the loss of a loved one. Those posts have focused mostly on what to say . Now, let's talk about myths surrounding the art of comforting — and about a few things you should (and shouldn't) do if you want to help. Read more at How To Comfort A Friend - Comforting Words For Friends - Marie Claire Related articles Having a Bad Day - Tips For Dealing With Days When You Just Feel Down Be Successful - Making A Personal Change - Part 1 Admit A Change is Needed Are you stressed-out by your poor work-life balance?

Something Sacred To Start Your Day - Navajo Early Morning Blessing

Something Sacred To Start Your Day - Navajo Early Morning Blessing ly Morning Blessing "Hooghan" from the album Sacred Mountains by Louie Gonnie courtesy Canyon Records (www.canyonrecords.com). Graphics by Rezboyz Designz Translation "The mountains were put there - in holy way, they told us that that will be our spiritual home. In the middle of the home will be a fire burning, there will be a door, there will be a fire poker (Sacred to Dine'), You're thoughts will be good, You will have plans to make, Life will be blessed, There the hope will stay." Singing Translation The home is there, prayer in the home, pray in the home, in the beauty way with the scared pollen pathway, the home is there, the home is there!

Your Happiness Factor

Search This Blog