Introduction to the Personal Development Journey
Personal development, in essence, is about reaching your full potential.
There are many ways to go about reaching your full potential, but I believe that we can best do this by focusing on one specific goal or dream and going after it with full effort.
And I write about personal development using the journey metaphor. This is a common metaphor and I believe it is so popular because it taps into something innate within us. You can understand your whole life by viewing it as a journey.
Every story, myth, book, or movie that features a journey likely has the protagonist overcoming obstacles and reaching their full potential. We love to hear these stories and to root on the protagonist.
So why not be the brave protagonist of your own story?
I believe that each of us has unique skills and gifts that, if we tap into, can improve our worlds. And I believe that the world will be a better place if more people go after their potential and do what they were meant to do.
You can go on a journey too
My blog will help you find your way on your personal development journey. While every journey is unique, they share many things in common. Much of the journey’s progress happens on an inner, mindset level.
Through Go Bravely Co., my goal is to guide fellow explorers on their own personal journeys. I write about the process from beginning to end: from choosing your destination, to stepping into the Unknown, through the messy middle, and finally reaching your goal.
What you’ll find on the Journey
In my blog, I write about inner places that you may find familiar, because they tap into our collective symbolism.
Such as when you haven’t started a journey yet, and are still at home. Or when you can’t see the way forward, because you are in a fog. Or when you are in the hard work, mountain-climbing phase.
Many of my ideas are inspired by Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey concept. I’m also inspired by fantasy worlds and dreams.
Why go on a journey?
To learn and grow
To fail
To succeed
To feel fulfilled
To help others
Many people choose not to go on a journey. They prefer to take a more passive approach and let life happen to them. They spend their whole life doing what is expected of them by their parents, their teachers, and society in general. They rarely deviate from the path ahead of them. They may stay in the just-okay job for ten, twenty years. Now, many people can go through life this way and be perfectly satisfied. And there is nothing wrong with that.
(Related: The Labyrinth)
But my guess is that you are not one of those people.
That is what led you to my site. You resonated with the idea of going on a journey. You felt called to go on one yourself. You may be tired after spending years and years doing what you ‘should’ do, and finally, want to do something just for yourself.
You are here because you are an explorer, like me.
The Journey is challenging
The journey isn’t easy or comfortable.
Sometimes you will go down the wrong paths and need to find your way again. Sometimes you may find yourself in a tunnel. Sometimes you must face an inner enemy head-on. But you feel called to go forward anyway.
Why?
Because you have the explorer spirit. The yearning for a better life. The feeling that you aren’t quite living up to your potential. And the desire — the need — to be your true self. Because you understand that if you were closer to being your true self, you would be a force for good, and could make a real difference.
You choose optimism over cynicism.
And you have restless curiosity compelling you forward.
If this sounds familiar, know that my blog is for you, and you can go on this journey. The journey will be tough, and long, and scary. It will require a lot of you. People around you may not understand when you start making changes in your life.
But it will be so worth it in the end. You will emerge having learned new lessons, become a stronger person, and having faced your own demons. You will be transformed.
This journey is allegorical and much of the progress happens inside of you.
Are you ready to start?
The first step is to choose a destination for your journey.