Why Personal Development Can’t Not Be DIY

Does this ever happen to you?

You come across a great article or book or blog post or infomercial about something you can do or buy to make yourself better, happier, calmer, healthier. You read it, or you watch it. You think, “This is some great stuff.” And then you move on.

Or how about this?

You hear about some activity you’d like to try, a hobby you think you’d enjoy, a technique that intrigues you. You search out information, buy some supplies. And then your momentum evaporates. Dust gathers. Intentions die.

It happens to me all the time. It’s like we believe passively reading about personal development will make it somehow happen to us. You know, by idea osmosis. Or something.

True story:

Just reading about mindfulness or photography or eating healthy or giving up all your possessions and living in the woods doesn’t make you a practitioner of those things any more than reading about football makes you an NFL quarterback. You must take that information and act. You cannot skip this step. If you do, nothing will ever happen.

You will never be the mindful, healthy, hermit photographer of your dreams. You will stay as you are. You will look back one day at the self you never embraced. And you will wonder what held you back.

I have a confession to make.

The whole acting on what you learn thing? That’s new to me. It’s not something I’ve been practicing for years. It hit me like a bolt of lightning one day just a couple of months ago. It’s like the sun has broken through the clouds and I am so…invigorated.

That’s a large part of why Remade By Hand now exists. Here’s why I created it.

There’s nothing like keeping your eyes on the prize to hold a goal steady in front of your mind. Publicly declaring your intention to undertake a project leads to much stronger commitment than whispering about that same project in the hidden recesses of your own mind.

That’s what I’m getting out of Remade By Hand: focus and accountability. Through this site, I will use those things to actually do the things I dream of doing.

So what’s in it for you?

My promise to you that I will pursue my dreams, reflect honestly on the process, and pass any wisdom I glean along the way on to you without reservation. That I’ll do my best to inspire you in turn. That I am a real person, starting projects and embracing change and reporting back because I believe we can live our dreams. And that if you need to be held accountable, you just let me know.

I’m not here to tell you what to do. Even if I were, it wouldn’t make any difference. Because for personal development to get under your skin and change you at your core, you must do it yourself.

I’m making a stand for DIY personal development. That means you take the reigns, you make it happen, you put that knowledge and those skills to work. And I’ll do the same. Let’s see how far we can go.

Tell me:

What intention or dream have you been harboring that you’re ready to kick into action?

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