What do we actually mean, when we talk about development?

Well, it may be an error to think of the ideal state being ' a fully functioning human being' . Rogers himself felt this was an impossible goal. Is there really an attainable end goal in life? Does we ever really self actualise, or does the process of growth continue endlessly? I believe it does, because i believe we are all capable of further development... YOU can develop and change your life for the better!

Development is denoted by the process of moving in the direction of becoming more fully functioning.  According to Rogers, this has three main componants. 

To become more open to experience one must loosen the defensive walls and strategies we have built up around us. The prison which we have created for ourselves. Moving from the pole of defensiveness to openness allows people to become more able to listen to themselves and other people, to be able to experience more of what is going on around them. It is the movement towards greater emotional self awareness and self acceptance.

The walls you have built up must be demolished, and you must tread bravely once again into the world of experience, and allow yourself to live. 

As a person opens themselves up to new experience, they begin to live less in the past and the future, but more in the present moment. This is what Rogers means by existential living. To live fully in the moment  one must abandon the rigidity of rules and the imposition of structure on experience. 

Be yourself, you are unique, like no one else, no one else has your particular combination of talents, skills, personality, individual quirks. You are special and irreplaceable. Learn to be yourself and love yourself. Confident people are sexy and happy, and even if you do not feel sexy or beautiful you can become more so, through your own inner confidence, as it will shine out to all others like a beacon.  

Rather than depending on rules, past experience or codes of action for guidance, people who are open to their own experience and are living fully in the present are able to trust and be guided by their internal reaction to situations. They become attuned to their 'inner voice' and they become confidant in trusting it.

The process of becoming a fully functioning person is never smooth, no one ever said developing and growing would be an easy process, but it is a neccessary process, one we must / should persue. We owe it to ourselves to be the best people we can be. We have one chance here on this earth, in this lifetime to proove ourselves, and live happy contented lives. You have the power to change and develop, make 2009 the year you make a start!