Personal development: The need to implement what we learn December 24, 2017
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Personal Development Potential.Tags: Arnold Toynbee, books, creativity, inspiration, life, psychology, self-actualization, setting goals, writing
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The eminent historian Arnold Toynbee warns obliquely that, for most of us, it is important to convert the knowledge we are gaining, into action; otherwise we are doomed to be constantly frustrated.
In Toynbee’s case, he found he was becoming frustrated in the world of academia by constantly acquiring more and more knowledge for its own sake. His irritation ended when he realized that by using his knowledge for the writing of history, he could be more creative and productive.
Similarly, in our efforts towards personal growth and self-actualization we tend to acquire a lot of knowledge, theory, and opinions, but if we do not put that knowledge and information into practice, it does us little good.
Toynbee found that when he applied the action of writing to his knowledge of history it enabled him to be more focused and selective about what future knowledge he chose to acquire.
Toynbee wrote, “Instead of going on acquiring knowledge ad infinitum, I had started to do something with the knowledge I already possessed, and this active use of knowledge gave direction, for the future, to my acquisition of knowledge.”(1)
(1) Arnold Toynbee, from his memoir, Experiences. Toynbee is best known for his ten volume work, A Study of History.
— Dennis Mellersh
Personal growth: Is self-improvement eventually futile? December 20, 2017
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Concept of personal development.Tags: Before the Sabbath, books, Eric Hoffer, inspiration, philosophy, psychology, self-actualization, writing
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When we are relatively young, the concept of personal growth and self-actualization seems like a far-reaching highway to endless vistas of possibilities; but as we grow older it’s possible we may reach the point where our efforts at further self-improvement may seem to have little rationale, or justification.
In his book, Before the Sabbath, the philosopher Eric Hoffer writes:
“Coming of short-lived stock, I have felt most of my life that my days were numbered. Yet only now, at seventy-three, do I have the feeling that there is no time left to make good what is lost or damaged – that any mistake I make is irremediable.”
It might be true as Hoffer implies that by the time we are elderly that we may run out of time to correct past mistakes; but actually, throughout our entire life, we are only one heartbeat away from oblivion.
I think the joy we obtain from our efforts in personal growth is in the process, even if the results may be imperfect.
So why not keep trying.
— Dennis Mellersh
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