We all strive to be better people as we get older. What’s your adult development plan?
We all want to be better people in our later years. Life would be much less satisfying if we didn’t strive to improve our relationships between family, friends and coworkers. But here’s an interesting question: Have you ever tried to be a better adult?
According to retired Harvard researcher and professor Dr. Robert Kegan’s Theory of Adult Development, becoming a better adult is centered around the continued development of our minds. Over time, we should be gaining cognitive function instead of losing it. Dr. Kegan claims that the key to becoming a more developed adult is transformation – using the knowledge gained throughout your life to change the way you think about the world.
Courtesy of Cahide Akkuzu, a master certified coach, team coach and leadership development consultant, here are a few tips to get started:
- Clarify your views and thoughts. Spend time on subjects that are important to you, whether it’s well-being, spirituality, management or another topic. Once you zero in on a particular subject, create your personal definition for it and how it aligns with your values.
- Determine what you want based on your clarified views. Make sure this is something that you want for yourself, not what you think others want from you. Approach this step by focusing on what you want first, then think about what you might want from others to gain it.
- Understand your reasons for what you want. Consider both the positive and negative angles – do you want to become more fulfilled, or are you trying to avoid a negative reaction? Either way, it’s crucial to understand why you want what you want so you can fully grasp what you’re pursuing.
By following these steps, learning new skills and acquiring more knowledge, you will be well on your way to developing a healthier mind.
Envisage helps you to develop a healthy mind through our Wellness Education for Long-Term Living (WELL) program and partnership with Masterpiece, which focuses on emotional, physical and social well-being, along with peace & fulfillment. Learn more here.