FIVE AREAS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Area Development
Physiological
Refers to physical changes in the body as well as the senses and
development
changes in skills related to movement.
Emotional development
It has something to do with the feelings that you experience.
Social development
It is about our innate capacity to relate with others, to connect, and
to feel the sense of belongingness
Cognitive development
Refers to a person’s intellectual abilities as shown in his/her
thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and values.
Spiritual development
It is discovering oneself beyond the ego known as the soul, spirit, or
the “inner essence” that is often disregarded or taken for granted. It
is experiencing a glimpse of the “inner guide” of one’s beliefs and
values in discovering the meaning of life.
PHYSIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
Physical health is defined as the condition of your body, taking into consideration
everything from the absence of disease to fitness level.
Physical health is critical for overall well-being and can be affected by:
Lifestyle: diet, level of physical activity, and behavior (eating unhealthy foods);
Human biology: a person’s genetics and physiology may make it easier or harder to
achieve good physical health;
Environment: our surroundings and exposure to factors such as sunlight or toxic
substances; and
Healthcare service: good healthcare can help prevent illness, as well as to detect and treat
illness.
It is important to take care of your body. Live healthy, eat healthy foods, get enough sleep,
exercise regularly, and avoid drugs and alcohol. Manage stress and go for regular medical check-
ups. Practice good hygiene.
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Emotional health is an important part of overall health. Emotionally healthy people are in
control of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They can cope with life’s challenges. Emotions
are responses that generate biochemical reactions in our bodies, changing the physical state.
There are many ways to improve or maintain good emotional health.
Be aware of your emotions and reactions. Notice what in your life makes you sad,
frustrated, or angry. Try to address or change those things.
Think before you act. Emotions can be powerful. Give yourself time to think, and be calm
before you say or do something you might regret.
Manage stress. Try to change situations, causing you stress. Learn relaxation methods to
cope with stress.
Strive for balance. Find a healthy balance between work and play and between activity
and rest. Make time for things you enjoy. Focus on positive things in your life.
Take care of your physical health. Your physical health can affect your emotional health.
Exercise regularly, eat healthy meals and get enough sleep. Do not abuse drugs or
alcohol.
Connect with others. We are social creatures. We need positive connections with other
people.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Social Development refers to how people develop social and emotional skills across the
lifespan, with particular attention to childhood and adolescence. Healthy social development
allows us to form positive relationships with family, friends, teachers, and other people in our lives.
As a person develop and perceive its individuality within a community, he/she also gains
skills to communicate with other people and process his/her actions. Social development most
often refers to how a person develops friendships and other relationships and how a person
handles conflict with peers.
Why is social development important?
Social development can impact many other forms of development a person experiences.
Healthy social development allows us to form positive relationships with family, friends, teachers,
and other people.
Healthy social development can help you:
Develop Communication Skills. An ability to interact with others allows for more
opportunities to practice communications skills.
Build self-esteem. When a person is unable to make friends, it can be frustrating or even
painful. A good circle of friends reinforces a person’s comfort level with her individuality.
Strengthen learning skills. Studies show that children who have a hard time getting along
with classmates as early as a preschool are more likely to experience later academic
difficulties.
Resolve conflicts. Stronger self-esteem and better language skills can ultimately lead to a
better ability to resolve differences with peers.
Establish a positive attitude. A positive attitude ultimately leads to better relationships with
others and higher levels of self-confidence.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Cognitive development means how people think, explore, and figure things out. It is the
development of knowledge, skills, problem-solving, and dispositions, which helps a person to
think about and understand the world around them. Brain development is part of cognitive
development. This aspect of the self is enhanced when one attends school to study and learn or
engages in other mental endeavors.
Mental abilities are developed by engaging in intellectual pursuits such as studies, work,
and figuring out how best to deal with challenges—thinking, planning, organizing, evaluating, and
maximizing cognitive abilities. The more we study, the more we learn; while the more we learn,
the more we can study better.
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Spiritual development is defined as discovering oneself beyond the ego known as the soul,
spirit, or the “inner essence” that is often disregarded or taken for granted (Llaneza-Ramos, 2017).
It is when one experiences a glimpse of the “inner guide” of one’s beliefs and values as one
discovers the meaning of life. It also allows people to connect with a Higher Power that is called
by many names like "God, Buddha, Allah.” “We are Christians, we are committed to the poor, we
value people, we are partners, and are responsive.” As we grow spiritually, our attitude toward
life also changes for the better in many ways. Most of our problems stem from our perceptions
and expectations of ourselves and of the world. One will realize that this solves half the problems
of our life. Spiritual growth and development help us to imbibe humility. Spirituality and inner
peace is a way of life. It helps us to develop great strength and courage. Spiritual growth and
development help to make human beings better citizens.
