Creating Your Personal Development Plan: Tips for Personal Growth

There are at least two kinds of people in the world. Some people let life happen to them, going wherever circumstances lead them and going in the direction of least resistance. Others plan their lives down to the minute, and they try not to leave anything to chance – the type that creates a personal development plan.

There is something to admire and learn from in either way. Being flexible and adaptable has its place, and good planning helps one avoid wasting opportunities.

Whichever end of the spectrum you find yourself, or whether you’re somewhere in the middle, having a personal development plan can help you be more intentional about your goals and make the most of the opportunities available to you.

The value of a personal development plan

A personal development plan is a tool. Like all other tools, what matters is how and when you use it. You can decide to map out a particular area of your life, such as a plan to grow spiritually and in your ability to pray, for instance.

Alternatively, your plan may be about your career or education. The value of having a plan is that it allows you to have sustained focus so that you get specific things done, which is important particularly if there’s a timeframe you need to adhere to.

As you create your plan, there are two important things to recall:

First, it’s good to plan so that you don’t get in over your head and can’t finish what you started. Jesus spoke the following words about being His disciples, but they apply to other areas of life as well:

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. – Luke 14:28-33, NIV

Second, it’s good to hold lightly to plans, because our perceptions aren’t always right, and God is in charge of the universe. In the book of Proverbs, we read these words:

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. – Proverbs 16:25, NIV

Your plans and planning may seem like the right way to go, but it might not be. Hold lightly to those plans, and be sure to invite the wisdom of others, because you might have it all wrong. Maybe pursuing that career change right now or that relationship isn’t wise.

Additionally, we also read:

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. – Proverbs 19:21, NIV

Our plans might get frustrated, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. God is in control, and that gives us hope despite our circumstances.

Creating yours

As you go about creating your plan, there are a few things to consider, including the following:

Know yourself

What matters to you, and what do you want to accomplish? What resources do you have on hand to accomplish your goal? What resources need to be supplemented for you to achieve your goals?

Set a time limit

This can help with accountability and helps you focus.

Get accountability

Ask a friend or another trusted person to walk with you. You can get help from a Christian life coach, for instance.

Start working on it

A plan needs to be executed. Get started on it, and keep going toward your goal, adjusting along the way if you have to.

Having a personal development plan is a great way to meet goals that matter to you. If you want guidance for creating and implementing your plan, don’t hesitate to reach out to a Christian life coach or a counselor who will walk with you on your journey.