The Challenge of Adult Personal Development

By Eric Scott

The Martial Arts Perspective

I have an amazing job. I teach full-time, and get to use martial arts and self-defense as a vehicle for personal development for kids and adults. The kids get it that they're meant to be learning full-time, and their mom and dad invest in them. The parents are far more of a challenge when faced with their own personal development. On occasion adults would rather sacrifice than put aside the time for their own development plan. Some adults think it's greedy - that learning and personal development is an indulgence.



Lifelong Learning

Learning is not an indulgence , but it's a past-time; however , learning is the sole leisure activity that provides a return on the investment of time and cash. We are the majority of the way through 2015. My students hear it from me once or more a month. Next year will be the same as this year, apart from these 3 things - the people you have met, the books you've read, and the things you're better at. Human connections, knowledge, and abilities.

Starting an Israeli Krav Maga self-defense program is empowering but might not be for everyone, but the plan needs to include something that is challenging and time-bound. One problem is that the kinds of goals we can set and enjoy don't appear heroic. But the truth is that if we are not growing a little, we're dying a little.



A Basic Development Plan:

I am not getting preachy with adults, but when I get questions, I share an illustration of what I do each month:

Read one book each month on an interesting subject

Make a short list of work and personal skills I want to work on, and do it. Not moving mountains, small things. Lynda.com could be a great resource for this. I learned video modifying, which is excellent for private and business. There's a boom in learning opportunities for anything you'd need to learn - including my online Krav Maga programs.

Put the phone down and strike up a fascinating conversation with somebody at the coffee shop once per week, and spend 20 minutes finding out about what she does. It's the most simple place in the world to have a real conversation, without needing to "network. " (Yuck)

The months roll by and I I never have time I'd like. Neither will you. It's gratifying to know I'm making a little bit of progress at a time, which is coincidentally also the key to progress in martial arts.

About the Author:

Eric Scott is a pro martial-arts instructor and founder of Self-defense Global . Self-defense Global offers gear, coaching, and training missions for a safer life. He offers a free video introductory class which has more information than most paid programs including a week of video lessons, and a free electronic book.