The 5 Steps to Personal Development: ASSESSMENT
As business leaders, we all have the desire to grow, produce and advance. We creatively and strategically develop plans for our businesses that, hopefully, will help it succeed in the days, months, and years ahead. Do we take the time to do the same for ourselves?
Over the next 5 weeks, Monday Meditations will explore:
“The 5 Steps to Personal Development”.
Week #1: ASSESSMENT
If we are to be intentional about our personal growth and development, then we need to take the first step of ASSESSING ourselves.
ASSESSMENT is the act of taking a look at facts and data as they exist today and making judgements about them. In order for it to be effective, our assessment needs to be brutally honest and accurate. Assessed reality should not be changed or improperly influenced by emotion and desire.
Let me give a few examples.
Taking an assessment about our health often requires us to enlist help from a doctor or professional in a related field. They will use data from equipment, such as monitors, and/or blood tests to help determine our fitness condition or issues. They will then use this data to help prescribe a plan that will lead to a better, and hopefully healthier future. What do you think would happen if the doctor would withhold information from you because he/she knows it might cause you emotional distress? Your path to improvement would be flawed and based on “bad data”. You might even do yourself more harm as you go about living your life.
In another scenario, taking time to assess our finances may involve the help and support of a wealth advisor trained in all aspects of money management. They use current information to help review your current investment portfolios and have tools to consider past trends and future projections. You can imagine what would happen if your investor would base his/her suggestions of how to manage your portfolio because they were influenced by your sentimental interest in a particular stock or fund, even though it has been declining for the past 6 quarters, with no hint of reversing.
There are many areas of our lives that requires us to look clearly and honestly at how things are today. Health and finances (as mentioned above) are just a couple. What about our relationships? Our emotional and mental health? Our spiritual lives? Not taking the time to assess our current reality in each of these areas means that we accept the unplanned direction each of these areas will take. We blindly walk through life "accepting what we get” in return for our complacent behaviours.
Q: When is the last time you intentionally assessed some of the critical areas of your life? How often should you be doing this?
The act of assessing accurately requires us to measure ourselves against something else. One of the easiest ways we do this is to measure ourselves against others. We compare our position in life, our health, our business success, and more, against those people around us. This form of “self-assessment” is dangerous and opens the door to many thoughts and ideas that would be harmful for us (envy, greed, negative competition, etc).
As Corpath members, we know we can find safe measurement practices by using God’s word to help guide us. In fact, 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) spells it out very clearly for us. It says… “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
And this closely aligns with what we read in Romans 15:4 (NLT); “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us.”
The world is always developing new ways to assess things. Metrics and strategies that existed just a few months ago no longer are valid or acceptable. However, as Christians, we know that God’s word never changes. It is the same today as it was for Paul when he wrote those words more than 2000 years ago.
If we are to do an adequate assessment of ourselves, our starting point should be the bible.
Another way we can engage in accurate self-assessment is to involve others whom we trust implicitly, such as our Corpath Forum group members. I like The Message bible paraphrase that says, “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Receiving perspectives and observations from others will help keep self-delusions away.
Q: In which specific areas of your life do you need to do an honest assessment? How can/will you use the bible to help with this? Will you share your thoughts and ask for input from your Corpath Group at your next meeting?
Here’s my last thought on this topic…
ASSESSMENT isn’t something you do just once. The “attitude of assessment” needs to exist at all times. Making adjustments to our lives for the purpose of growth and development will require us to constantly monitor and assess our progress. Why not add it to your calendar each month (or more frequently)?
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for being with me as I start another week. I also thank you for this reminder and encouragement to take a moment and assess my life as it is today. May I be faithful in using Your word and enlist Christian brothers and sisters to help me assess accurately. Reveal to me hidden areas that require an honest review and help me have courage to make changes. Amen
Blessings as Always!
Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
"Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit"
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.
