Of Snow Plows and Personal Development

Today I am grateful for snow plows.

It was snowing quite a lot in my neck of the woods this morning and I had a meeting to go to. As I was driving along the somewhat plowed roads, I was reminded of an experience I had in college. One day after my classes were done I was heading home in a huge blizzard, with my best friend Liz. We were in my little Plymouth Sundance, and I thought, "I bet the freeways will be nasty to drive home on. We should take the back roads so we can go slower." Seems like a good theory, right? Well, I didn't take into account the fact that usually freeways are the first roads to get plowed, and the back roads are the last.

So, there we were, driving down this 2-lane road in the middle of nowhere, desperately trying to stay in the tracks left by the cars in front of us. There had to be 6 inches of snow built up on the road. Talk about white- knuckling it... and then, of course, I drifted ever so slightly out of the tracks in front of me and BAM - we slid off the side of the road. We looked a lot like this:

On this road back then, the houses were few and far between, and the snow plows were scarce. Luckily, the house that we were closest to had a backhoe and the owners were able and willing to dig my car out of the snow bank and help us get back on the road.

This brought up some reflection for me as I was driving this morning. I thought about how our lives can get weighed down and covered in slippery, slushy, hard-to-maneuver-in muck, just like the roads get when they're covered in snow. Do we like driving in muck, because it's familiar? How does it hinder our progress? What are the dangers of proceeding on an un-plowed road? What about when we're ready to move forward? What can we use to remove that muck? How do we plow the road of our subconscious mind to clear away the slippery, slushy, hard-to-maneuver-in muck that has built up over time?

For me, the answer is personal development. I have come to realize, over the last couple of years, how absolutely vital this practice is in my life. I have found many methods and ways to go about personal development, and I would like to share three of them with you today. Also, keep in mind that the more effective you want to be at clearing the road, the more snow plows you need to use...

1- Books. There are a plethora of books out there about personal development. Some call them "self-help books". Some people make fun of this literature genre. Some people revere it. I have come to rely heavily on it, because I have seen great results in my own life through the things I have read. I love the variety out there - there is literally something for everyone, and if you want the tools to clean up your muck, you will be able to find them.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Remembering Wholeness, by Carol Tuttle
• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
• Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
• As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
• Hidden Treasures by Leslie Householder
• The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

2- Energy Clearing. There are also a variety of ways to go about clearing negative energy from your life. I am fascinated with this topic right now and I am learning everything I can get my hands on. I have been on a journey my whole life, trying to find out WHO I AM, what my personal mission is, and how I can fulfill it. I know the basics - I am a Child of God, I am here to learn, and I plan to go to Heaven one day. But, specifically, for me... what are the answers? 

Some of the energy clearing methods that have helped me:

• Rapid Eye Technique
• Tapping (EFT)
• Affirmations
• Energy Circles
• Prayer
• Visualizations
• Completing conversations
• Meditation

3- Workshops. It is amazing how many personal development mentors/gurus/workshops there are out there. It is not hard to find one that will mesh with your goals and ideals and help you to overcome your blocks. But I have found that you can't just go to one and magically be "fixed" or "cured". In fact, there is nothing to "fix" or "cure". And, being around people that are like-minded, that are figuring out things as they go and then sharing them with whoever will listen, is powerful. Staying in the conversation of continual growth and development, and striving to be the best you can be is very powerful. The coolest thing is, you can find these workshops everywhere. You can attend them online, in person, or even over the phone. You just have to be on the lookout!

I love attending workshops. Here are some of my favorites:

• Master of Influence by Kirk Duncan
• Landmark Education
• Aura Personalities by Staci Sadler
• Body Language by Kirk Duncan
• Belief Breakthrough by Heather Madder
• Elevation by Tiffany Peterson
• Dressing Your Truth by Carol Tuttle

So, how do you feel about Personal Development? What are you doing to clear the slippery, slushy, hard-to-maneuver-in muck out of your life? I would love to hear of new ideas, so please comment below!