Personal development involves improving yourself by learning new skills or information to achieve goals and reach your full potential. Expanding your skillset and knowledge can help clarify your personal and career development goals and improve your employability. As you gain self-confidence through experience and growth, your problem-solving ability will grow. One of the major benefits of self-improvement is increased happiness, which can improve both your personal and professional relationships.
Working on your personal development is important because it can boost your quality of life both internally and externally. As you make progress, you’ll not only improve your skills and self-awareness, but the feeling of empowerment from achieving your goals will increase your [self-esteem](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-esteem) and confidence. 

Getting past bumps on the self-development road will give you the resilience to handle life’s challenges and motivate you to keep going.

There are five main areas of your life where you can focus on personal development:

1. __Emotional__: This area is about understanding and managing your emotions and how you behave during life or work challenges. [Developing emotional intelligence](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence) is about recognizing your feelings and learning healthy, appropriate ways to express them.  
2. __Mental__: The mental area of personal development focuses on how your mind thinks and learning new information and cognitive skills. This area is beneficial if you want to change your [career path](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/career-path-guide) and need to focus on professional development.
3. __Physical__: This area focuses on the physical health of your body. Improving your eating habits, getting regular exercise, and practicing good [sleep hygiene](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sleep-hygiene-tips) all contribute to a healthy body. When you feel well physically, it’s much easier to improve other areas of your life.
4. __Social__: You might want to be a better listener in your personal life or improve your clarity when communicating with coworkers. Social development means improving your interpersonal skills and your [communication skills](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-your-communication-skills). 
5. __Spiritual__: The spiritual side of personal development focuses on connecting with yourself to generate a sense of peace and well-being. Spirituality could manifest as practicing a religion, meditation, connecting with nature, or any other activity that allows your mind to rest and release stress. Get started with professor Jon Kabat-Zinn’s [meditation guide](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/jon-kabat-zinns-meditation-guide).

Follow this step-by-step guide to improve your personal development skills:

1. __Choose the areas you’d like to improve__. The first step is to determine the areas in which you’d like to grow. Take note of your strengths as well as your weaknesses in each area. 
2. __Make a plan__. Your personal development plan can include goal-setting and a timeline of when you’d like to accomplish those goals. Write down your plan so you can refer to it as you progress. Consider working with a mentor with experience in life coaching who can help you create a road map of your goals. Learn more about [setting goals](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals).
3. __Take action__. It’s time to put your plan in motion. Start small and incorporate your personal development goals into your daily routine to make them a habit. Learn [how to make a schedule](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-schedule) that includes time for your personal development.
4. __Be gentle with yourself as you learn__. There’s always a learning curve when you step out of your comfort zone and start something new. Avoid being too hard on yourself when things go awry and recognize that personal development is a lifelong process. Cultivating a [growth mindset](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/growth-mindset-explained) can help you see setbacks as opportunities.
5. __Celebrate your wins__. Stay motivated by celebrating when you reach a milestone. Keep a journal so you can keep track of your accomplishments.
6. __Evaluate your progress__. Make time for self-reflection on your personal growth journey and review what you’ve learned. Keep track of what’s working and adjust your learning process if a better path to achieve your goals appears.

Figuring out what you want to do next and how to get there? Learn how to embrace your passions with a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and find the grit to take control of your life with exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Robin Arzón, Elaine Welteroth, Hillary Rodham Clinton, RuPaul, and more.
Learn all about personal development and how you can cultivate it in your own life.


Learn all about personal development and how you can cultivate it in your own life.


Personal Development: How to Foster Personal Development

Personal development involves improving yourself by learning new skills or information to achieve goals and reach your full potential. Expanding your skillset and knowledge can help clarify your personal and career development goals and improve your employability. As you gain self-confidence through experience and growth, your problem-solving ability will grow. One of the major benefits of self-improvement is increased happiness, which can improve both your personal and professional relationships.

What Is Personal Development?

Working on your personal development is important because it can boost your quality of life both internally and externally. As you make progress, you’ll not only improve your skills and self-awareness, but the feeling of empowerment from achieving your goals will increase your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-esteem' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-esteem","linkCopy":"self-esteem","category":null}'>self-esteem</a> and confidence. Getting past bumps on the self-development road will give you the resilience to handle life’s challenges and motivate you to keep going.

Why Is Personal Development Important?

There are five main areas of your life where you can focus on personal development:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Emotional: This area is about understanding and managing your emotions and how you behave during life or work challenges. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence","linkCopy":"Developing emotional intelligence","category":null}'>Developing emotional intelligence</a> is about recognizing your feelings and learning healthy, appropriate ways to express them. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Mental: The mental area of personal development focuses on how your mind thinks and learning new information and cognitive skills. This area is beneficial if you want to change your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/career-path-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/career-path-guide","linkCopy":"career path","category":null}'>career path</a> and need to focus on professional development. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Physical: This area focuses on the physical health of your body. Improving your eating habits, getting regular exercise, and practicing good <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sleep-hygiene-tips' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sleep-hygiene-tips","linkCopy":"sleep hygiene","category":null}'>sleep hygiene</a> all contribute to a healthy body. When you feel well physically, it’s much easier to improve other areas of your life. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Social: You might want to be a better listener in your personal life or improve your clarity when communicating with coworkers. Social development means improving your interpersonal skills and your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-your-communication-skills' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-your-communication-skills","linkCopy":"communication skills","category":null}'>communication skills</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Spiritual: The spiritual side of personal development focuses on connecting with yourself to generate a sense of peace and well-being. Spirituality could manifest as practicing a religion, meditation, connecting with nature, or any other activity that allows your mind to rest and release stress. Get started with professor Jon Kabat-Zinn’s <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/jon-kabat-zinns-meditation-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/jon-kabat-zinns-meditation-guide","linkCopy":"meditation guide","category":null}'>meditation guide</a>. </li></ol>

5 Areas of Personal Development

Follow this step-by-step guide to improve your personal development skills:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Choose the areas you’d like to improve. The first step is to determine the areas in which you’d like to grow. Take note of your strengths as well as your weaknesses in each area. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Make a plan. Your personal development plan can include goal-setting and a timeline of when you’d like to accomplish those goals. Write down your plan so you can refer to it as you progress. Consider working with a mentor with experience in life coaching who can help you create a road map of your goals. Learn more about <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals","linkCopy":"setting goals","category":null}'>setting goals</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Take action. It’s time to put your plan in motion. Start small and incorporate your personal development goals into your daily routine to make them a habit. Learn <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-schedule' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-schedule","linkCopy":"how to make a schedule","category":null}'>how to make a schedule</a> that includes time for your personal development. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Be gentle with yourself as you learn. There’s always a learning curve when you step out of your comfort zone and start something new. Avoid being too hard on yourself when things go awry and recognize that personal development is a lifelong process. Cultivating a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/growth-mindset-explained' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/growth-mindset-explained","linkCopy":"growth mindset","category":null}'>growth mindset</a> can help you see setbacks as opportunities. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Celebrate your wins. Stay motivated by celebrating when you reach a milestone. Keep a journal so you can keep track of your accomplishments. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Evaluate your progress. Make time for self-reflection on your personal growth journey and review what you’ve learned. Keep track of what’s working and adjust your learning process if a better path to achieve your goals appears. </li></ol>

How to Foster Personal Development

Figuring out what you want to do next and how to get there? Learn how to embrace your passions with a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and find the grit to take control of your life with exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Robin Arzón, Elaine Welteroth, Hillary Rodham Clinton, RuPaul, and more.

You’re Worth It

Learn all about personal development and how you can cultivate it in your own life.