Personal Growth Development

Photo Credit: misscupcake1 @Flickr

What is one of the biggest challenges to personal growth and development?  How about sleeplessness?!

Going without sleep can really tax our personal reserves.  I've had periods of dealing with insomnia, and let me tell you, I noticed the difference: more edgy, more irritable, little things getting to me.  But then, the more I would try to get to sleep, the more I thought about not getting to sleep, the more insomnia I would experience, and so on, and so on.  It was one vicious cycle!

I'd like to share some resources with you that have been helpful to me.  However, I would also like to hear from you in the comments about what have been helpful solutions and strategies for you.

A friend of mine who is also a practicing therapist and certified hypnotherapist, Rob Smith, has produced a great cd called Sleep Easily.

Now, what worked for me in terms of audio programs, may not work for you, or for a child.  Therefore, you may want to explore other great programs that are available.

Finally, I've included a really great article I found regarding this topic.  I hope you will read it, enjoy it, and apply it!  Let me know your results!

P.S. 4/29/09 Based on one of my commentors, isabella mori, I have included her wonderful article, which provides even more great strategies for falling asleep.

What is it that has made Tiger Woods so great in his career?

I just finished reading a very interesting article about becoming great in your career.  During this economy, striving for excellence is a great idea, so that you can create your own economy by making sure that who you are, as a person, and the value you bring to your work place is of a degree of excellence such that employers are seeking you out.

Here is an abbreviated tip sheet from the article I read in Fortune magazine:

 1. Approach each critical task with an explicit goal of getting much better at it.

2. As you do the task, focus on what's happening and why you're doing it the way you are.

3. After the task, get feedback on your performance from multiple sources. Make changes in your behavior as necessary.

4. Continually build mental models of your situation - your industry, your company, your career. Enlarge the models to encompass more factors.

 5. Do those steps regularly, not sporadically. Occasional practice does not work.

I  happened to meet, via some networking, a professional colleague whose philosophy of mental health and human growth really synced with what I think.  This gentleman's name is Tom Wooton.  He founded a company called Bipolar Advantage.  I won't go into detail about his company.  But I would recommend that you watch his video, in which he talks candidly about his own struggle with Bipolar Disorder.

However, listen to the philosophy he has about "mental health conditions:" 

"Our Mission is to help people with mental conditions shift their thinking and behavior so that they can lead extraordinary lives. We are dedicated to the concept that recovery does not have to be limited to 90% of full function; true recovery means doing the hard work that brings you to 150%! We strongly believe that we can turn our 'condition' into one that becomes an advantage instead of an 'illness' or a 'disorder.'"

One of things I was most struck by as I watched his own personal testimonial about dealing with bipolar disorder was the balance between giving into the 'delusion' that you are unable to function because of your condition, versus being aware of the realistic limitations, but also striving to take responsibility for who you are in full.  You are not your diagnosis!  You are an incredible human being with so much potential.  Rise up, and take responsibility.  This means admitting that you may have a condition, that you may have limitations, but it also means looking at your strengths, acknowledging those, and using your gifts and talents.