Is It Better To Pursue Personal Development Goals Alone Or In An Established Group?

If you have been thinking about pursuing some personal development goals, you may be wondering if you would be better off joining a group or going it alone. It really all depends on your past life experiences and your personal preferences. If you have had negative experiences with groups in the past, and you do your best work alone, obviously, you will prefer to pursue your goals solo, at least initially. If you are a people person who loves a crowd, a group setting may be best for you. Here are some things to consider when evaluating your own personality style and your own preferences for succeeding in pursuing personal development goals.

1. Where can you usually be found? Would you rather enjoy a quiet evening curled up in a comfy chair reading a book with a cup of hot cocoa, or do you prefer a lively discussion of the book in which you are engaged?

2. Does people involvement distract you from your goals or motivate you to stick with them more firmly? If you are easily dissuaded from your goals by negative input from others, you may be better off starting out on your personal development goals by yourself and attaining some small successes to give you confidence before joining a group.

3. Do you tend to believe that groups stay focused on their goals and get a lot accomplished, or are you more of the opinion that a camel is a horse created by a committee? If you do not have faith in the ability of a group to accomplish goals, you will surely not be helped by group efforts.

4. Do you like to have someplace to go and something to do at a specific time? If you enjoy being at expected places, group participation is probably a good thing for you. If you hate having to be places on time and having your time consumed by the expectations of others, you're not a group person! You'll be better off going it alone.

5. Do you sometimes like one thing and other times like another? If there are times when you long to be by yourself and other times when you long to have company, perhaps it would be best for you to combine solitary efforts and group's efforts. In this case, perhaps a weekly group meeting would be a good idea with solitary pursuits in between.

6. Don't get stuck in a rut! Whether you start out on your personal development goals by yourself or in a group, stay open to your own thoughts and feelings. There may come a time when you wish to change your methods, and that's OK. Be true to yourself and pursue your goals in the way that works best for you in the here and now.

7. Stay flexible! Keep your eyes on the prize, but realize that your idea of the prize may change. As you grow, learn and develop, your priorities may shift. You may find that your old goal no longer appeals to you, and that's OK! Be sure to give changes to your pursuit of your goal careful consideration. After you have weighed all of the pros and cons and can make an informed decision, proceed!

By following the tips listed here, you will be able to make a good decision about whether or not you wish to pursue your personal goals in a private or public venue. No matter what you choose, your choice is the right one if it works for you. By keeping all of your options open and making the most of every opportunity that presents itself, you'll soon find yourself happily on the road to attaining your dreams.