Pathways to Personal Growth

There were many topics brought up in this chapter that I have already begun to pursue, but there were many that I would like to start.  As I type up this post, I can't help but look at my bookcase and realize how I have selected books that I have helped me through some of my own personal struggles.  I have books on memory and statistics, but that was obviously for my courses in my old grad school.  Books that I have personally selected all regard individuals who have gone through a personal struggle only to realize their talents and excel through life which helps me pursue my goals (Corey & Corey, 2008).

One of the biggest steps I have taken on my journey of self-improvement  and personal growth was to seek out counseling services (Corey & Corey, 2008). I was incredibly apprehensive to see a counselor as I have seen many counselors in my life. I saw a counselor as an undergraduate, was enrolled in an intensive outpatient program, saw two different counselors and was a member of  group counseling at my old graduate school, and now I see a counselor and psychiatrist here at Millersville. Counselors in my past had always pushed me to just take action and speak up for myself. This was definitely something one of my counselors during grad school would hit every time we met. I had disclosed how I wanted to come out to my parents, and he explained that the best approach would be to "just tell them." As I continued with counseling, he would start off asking me if I had come out to my parents yet. When I disclosed that I was incredibly fearful, he would just say that I just need to do it.

One topic that was raised in the chapter that I thought would be quite difficult for myself would be exploring my dreams to further understand myself (Corey & Corey, 2008). The difficulty being that I do not even dream. It is a possibility that I do dream, but I do not even wake up remembering any of it. When I read about keeping a journal by my bedside to be able to record anything I remember upon waking, I will definitely be experimenting with this method during summer break. If I would be able to record even the most minute details of my dreams, it would help me tremendously to reflect on situations going on in my life and potentially give me guidance on making decisions.

Reference
Corey, G., & Corey, M.S. (2008). I never knew I had a choice: Explorations in personal growth (9th ed.). Belmont, California: Thompson Brooks/Cole.