Photo by juvetson;

Forget about depressing stories about the brain. That it’s at its best in our twenties, then slowly declines - until we are left in old age with tatters instead of dendrites in the brain and can’t even remember our own name. Forget that. It’s not true.

The great news is that the brain is plastic: it can develop throughout life. Like muscles develop with a physical workout, intelligence can be shaped up through brain exercises.
There are many different facets of intelligence that all make up our mind. Personal growth means fostering and training the many different kinds of intelligence available to us. Read on to find out which are the nine different forms of intelligence and how to develop each one.

Dr. Howard Gardner, author of Frames Of Mind and co-director of Project Zero at Harvard University, has created a Theory of Multiple Intelligences and lists seven difference kinds: Read the rest of this entry »

Nelson Mandela is one of the secular saints of our times. His approach to peace can teach us how to resolve conflict in our lives. Here are 8 lessons on how to foster peace:
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1. Never let go of your dreams

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Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years on Robben Island. During this time he never gave up on his dream to end apartheid and bring peace to South Africa.
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2..Look for the good in people

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There is a lovely passage in his autobiography where Mandela describes the departure of prison commander Badenhurst, the most callous and barbaric commanding officer Mandela had witnessed whilst imprisoned on Robben Island. Before leaving, Badenhurst summoned Mandela and said:

“I just want to wish you people good luck.”

Mandela was taken aback. In his autobiography he says, Read the rest of this entry »

Photo by Matthew Fang

In the core of your consciousness, what kind of being are you? Are you brave or cowardly? Are you truthful or dishonest? Are you generous or selfish? Are you responsible or irresponsible? Life in the physical universe exposes your true inner qualities.

These are challenging questions by Steve Pavlina in the following conversation with Mary Jaksch. Read on to be inspired by what Steve Pavlina, one of the most successful authors on personal growth, has to say about personal development:
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Mary Jaksch: Steve, you’re easily the most successful personal development blogger on the Internet, attracting more than two million monthly readers to your website StevePavlina.com. And your new book Personal Development for Smart People is about to become a bestseller. I hear that it’s just cracked the Amazon top 100 list. And it’s still three months away from release! When I read your website, I get the feeling that you are totally passionate about personal growth.
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Why do you think personal growth is so important?

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Steve Pavlina:
I think growth is the primary reason we find ourselves here on earth. I came to this conclusion while pondering the seemingly unavoidable fact that someday I’m going to die, and I don’t even know when that will happen.
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You must realize that everything you’re experiencing in your human life is temporary. Your body, your home, your career, your possessions, your human relationships — all temporary! When you die, all of those things will be left behind. Read the rest of this entry »