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Emerald · 11-15-2006, 01:14 PM

"So, I pose the question: Is personal development for poor people?"

I would have to agree that 'packaged' self development is not really easily accessible to poor people. By this I mean books, tapes, seminars etc. These tend to cost money and also TIME. PD is a very time-centred activity. Time that you don't have 'spare' because you need to make money or find some other way of satisfying basic needs.

So I think the problem is more fundamental - it's difficult to have an open and enquiring mind, curiosity and the feeling that you deserve to have good stuff when you are preoccupied with finding your next meal or somewhere to sleep.

It's seems like a classic Catch 22 situation. You need the space in your head to have room for the reflection and questioning that goes with pursuing personal development and often it seems that you can't get that space because other more pressing matters keep you firmly anchored to the food, shelter, security layer of Mazlow's hierarchy. It need'nt be either/or though, if you can find even little bit of security then you can relax enough for the process of life improvement to begin. So there you go, improve you life and then you'll have time to improve your life!

11-15-2006, 01:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Emerald Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bedfordshire, Uk Posts: 7	"So, I pose the question: Is personal development for poor people?" I would have to agree that 'packaged' self development is not really easily accessible to poor people. By this I mean books, tapes, seminars etc. These tend to cost money and also TIME. PD is a very time-centred activity. Time that you don't have 'spare' because you need to make money or find some other way of satisfying basic needs. So I think the problem is more fundamental - it's difficult to have an open and enquiring mind, curiosity and the feeling that you deserve to have good stuff when you are preoccupied with finding your next meal or somewhere to sleep. It's seems like a classic Catch 22 situation. You need the space in your head to have room for the reflection and questioning that goes with pursuing personal development and often it seems that you can't get that space because other more pressing matters keep you firmly anchored to the food, shelter, security layer of Mazlow's hierarchy. It need'nt be either/or though, if you can find even little bit of security then you can relax enough for the process of life improvement to begin. So there you go, improve you life and then you'll have time to improve your life!