Developing Personal Depth

Everyone seeks personal depth to one degree orway they are. They may be satisfied, but they
another. Personal depth stands as *the* way toalways seek to become more. More meaning in
add richness and beauty to our lives.their life. Higher destiny. Greater complexity of
Nobody wants to be considered a shallow person.personality. And new self-image.
Still, the concept of becoming a 'deep' person4. Develop and strengthen character.
turns many people off. We have this image of aCharacter: By knowing your ideals and your
deep person as someone who spends a little tooprinciples, and living by them.... by having ideas and
much time stroking his beard and smoking hisopinions and standing by them.... That's how you
pipe, lost in thought way beyond us mere mortals.build character and thus increase your personal
They ponder too much. They're smarter than us.depth.
They go to the opera -and actually know what5. Continuous expansion of your power, strength,
the fat lady is singing about! They're just notresponsibility and creativity.
normal.You look for ways to be more powerful; to act,
Fortunately, personal depth exists as somethingto get involved in the world around you. You look
else altogether.for ways to take more responsibility from the
Achieving greater personal depth (and notmost minute to the most magnificent. You know
coincidently, greater success at anything youyour strengths and look for ways to use them.
pursue) involves taking specific actions. You canYou work on expanding your creativity.
achieve greater personal depth starting today by(Creativity is anything you do that inspires you or
working with the seven characteristics listedinspires others.) Just taking a walk can be
below.creative!
1. Develop and use the generating energies of6. Sustained actualization.
trust and value.You're in touch with your thoughts and feelings,
Trust: Even though you don't have all theand you're not afraid to put them into action. You
answers, you know you'll get by. You're 'enough'always think and feel. You're aware of that
and you know it. You can count on yourself. Youthinking and feeling. And you act upon those
can rely on your power, strength and talent.thoughts and feelings.
Whatever happens you know you can face it:7. Generating spirituality.
you know you'll make it. Even though it may notYou don't have to separate yourself from the
be perfect, you'll handle the situation at hand 'goodmundane of life to experience your spirituality.
enough'. That's trust.Rather, you seek the spiritual *within* the
Value: You might not be highly visible in the world,material. Your spirituality eventually becomes your
but the role you play in life *is* highly valuable.number one priority.
You know you are valuable in your way - toYou come to realize everything you experience is
yourself and to those who love you. Also, youa manifestation of your spirituality. There is no
recognize, respond and act upon your value.separation between the spiritual and the living of
2. Develop and use the sustaining energies of lifelife - that's the goal of the person seeking or
such as discipline and ownership.having personal depth.
The discipline that's self-imposed: You decide on***
something and then you *follow through*. YouAs you can see, personal depth is not something
follow your own plan, your own rules - that'syou check off on a to-do list. Let's see... walk the
discipline.dog, take out the trash, and oh yeah - achieve
Ownership: Own your thoughts and feelings. Ownpersonal depth. No.
your emotions. Own your failures - so you canIt's an ongoing, never-ending, always-expanding
change them. Own that you're responsible. Andendeavor. Basically it all comes down to becoming
own your successes - so you can keep them.more of yourself.
Ownership gives you the 'right' to change.There are no limits, and that's the good news.
3. Continuously create new meaning, new destiny,You can always experience greater personal
new personality, and new self-image.depth.
People with personal depth never settle for the