We often hear the term “personal development,” but what does it really mean?

What are we developing and why is it personal?

Personal development is any activity that improves an area of your life.

It can be reading books on new topics or growing in a skill or working on a talent. It can be building relationship skills or learning how to achieve specific goals or getting better at something you know would really improve you as a person.

Coaching can come along side someone in the development process with tools, accountability, encouragement, ideas and asking the hard questions. Coaches are a huge asset to change and growth.

In being a Christian and Christ-follower, personal development can also include growing in faith, learning more about God, building specific foundational practices like fasting or praying, or even developing a new level of personal time with Jesus each day.

We often hear these things. We know these things. But, how do we actually do them?

We’re each called to become more like Christ. But, how do we do that?

This is where coaching, The Equipping Profile, and the I Hurt book become invaluable and transformational.

In coaching, we can walk through the process together.

We’ll untangle the thought processes that are often the missing pieces to real change and growth.

We’ll use The Equipping Profile which is a biblically based and clinically proven tool with 10 areas of Christian character. The profile takes about 2 minutes to complete and then, you’ll receive a report that is your personal step-by-step guide to growth in specific areas.

You’ll order your own book so you can highlight, write and circle all the things.

You’ll get a graph, like the one below, with your own markers on each of the 10 areas listed.

We’ll take those markers and map out where your stressors are and how you can work towards Christ-likeness in practical, real ways.

This transformational process points out personal hindrances to growth and offers a growth plan that is doable and allows you to overcome in areas that will directly impact your life.

But you don’t have to go through the process by yourself.

In 6-8 coaching sessions, we can go through the book, talk through your personal hindrances and use clinical tools for change. You can get a journal to write things down, make lists, practice new thought processes, and remind yourself of the journey you’re on.

In just a few weeks, anxiety and stress will start to go down {seriously… you’ll notice a difference} as you realize there are small steps you can take each day to remember who you are in Christ, transform your thinking and begin to see small changes.

Our inner world can get so busy, so clouded, so off-base from where our thoughts should be.

Thankfully, God’s Word has answers and with Him, we can renew our minds and slow down the crazy-thinking!

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

I would love to journey this process with you.

Ready to see your Equipping Profile?

We all have been hurt, because life is not always fair or righteous. We live in a fallen world. Many of us have experienced disappointment. We have experienced people who hurt us and deeply rejected us, put us aside or not paid attention to us. Maybe they looked at us the wrong way or said hurtful things or even betrayed us. How do we interpret and respond to these situations? Many of us carry feelings of emotional hurt, anger, guilt and frustration. We may have reacted with fits of rage, negative responses, grumpiness, haughtiness, prideful behavior and not being all that God calls us to be for ourselves or in relationships with others. Sometimes feeling these things causes us to spill our hurt/pain onto other people. The difference between a happy life and a hurting life is how we interpret and respond to these life situations. We are what we think about.

Scripture calls us to be more “Christ-like” and speaks over and over again that we are to not be afraid or anxious. But how do we do this? How do we become the person that is made in God’s image, to be free from our fears and anxieties?

I Hurt by Gary Morais

What about groups?

This is a great option for a group to walk through together. Groups provide an opportunity to discuss the material, share personal experiences and build relationships.

Group coaching can be on zoom or in person. It can be with your staff, a group of friends, a church class or women’s group.

I’d love to talk creatively about how we can take your group through this journey together.