We are busy women. In many ways we really like that, don’t we? We like being busy. But we also get frustrated with how much our busy-ness gets in the way of attending to our personal growth. That doesn’t seem to keep us from buying more books or audio programs, of course, but it does add to our guilt about not following through or self-judgment. (Of course, you probably have a book or two on those topics, right?)
I recently contacted a group of women I know who are committed to their personal growth, but who are also extremely busy woman – either as business-owners, executives, or working moms. Specifically I asked them what prevents them from attending to their personal growth as much as they want, or what keeps them from finishing the book(s) or audio programs they purchase. I was curious about how they manage the abundance of information, and what they do to inspire themselves to stay on track with their personal growth.
Hopefully their experiences will speak to you or give you some good ideas.
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What prevents me from attending a seminar or buying a book?
1) Personal growth fatigue (having done so much of it already) and
2) having so many books and programs that I haven’t finished yet!
Sometimes what gets in the way is feeling that I want to finish reading/doing the ones that I’ve already purchased.
Barbra Sundquist, MPA, IAC-CC
BecomeACertifiedCoach.com
Vancouver, Canada
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Sometimes it feels that my personal growth (even as a coach) has to take a back seat to the “serious work” of earning a living, maintaining relationships,etc. I notice it much less now as a coach than when I was in the corporate world, but it is still present. Also, I often feel that my desire to learn outpaces my ability to assimilate what I’ve learned. So sometimes I just need to “be” and let things settle. For example, I haven’t had a coach for a few months because I felt a needed some time to just take things as they come, rather than seeking to make things happen.
What prevents me from attending the seminar or buying the book?
Mostly the elements in the answer above. I’ve stopped (mostly ; )) buying books because I seldom go back to them, but I check books out of the library like crazy.
Somehow I 1) am more likely to read or skim it if I know it’s due back at the library vs owning it, and 2) give myself permission to just skim a library book, but seem to think I need to read my own from start to finish.
What is it that gets in the way? Primarily too many other shiny objects to pay attention to! The deadline of a library due date really helps me follow through. I don’t allocate time to read like I do to other things, so reading is something I do when I can fit it in, or when something grabs my attention and I put aside the other stuff (then scramble to catch up!).
Karen Van Cleve
www.KarenVanCleve.com
Lakewood, Colorado
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Fear. Fear of seeing ugly things about myself; fear of seeing exactly what I need to do to change; fear of feeling the sorrow of past slip ups and mistakes;
Time – sometimes I’m too busy helping others grow, from the Comfort Cafe to my daughter.
Honestly, it’s hard for me to find new information that is new to me. For me, it is not about taking in the new so much as practicing what I know.
Jennifer Louden
http://www.jenniferlouden.com/
http://www.comfortqueen.com/comfortcafe/
Bainbridge Island, WA
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Somehow, “work” always seems to be more important than personal development. I find it difficult even to slow down to do a short meditation for a few minutes. I was a member of a website for months, never did anything with it, and finally cancelled without having done any of the exercises! My brain “knows” that personal development will fuel my business development…but my anxiety over doing business NOW makes it difficult to let myself work on me. It’s self-talk fueled by depression…which as I write it, seems like a lame excuse 
Terri Zwierzynski
www.Solo-E.com
Cary, NC USA
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I think at times I can allow “LIFE” to get in the way and prevent me from having the time to do what I need to do, like going to workshops or reading personal development stuff.
Life: is other things in my life besides me…husband, work, dinner, grocery shopping, grandchildren, parents etc….& email.
If I was to be honest…letting “LIFE” get in the way is a way or a place for me to hide out.
Hide out from me becoming powerful! Because if I am a powerful woman, it might require too much of me and then maybe I can’t handle that or have what it takes to BE that. I think it is my fears of being powerful that truly do hold me back! I deserve more for myself!~
Sheri Rowland
www.HavingTheTimeOfMyLifeNow.com
Texas, USA
