Weekly Prompt: Personal Growth

Morning routines cure bad breath and other funny stories.

I’m a big fan of personal growth, the proud owner of a polished and well-used if at times forgotten, Growth Mindset. I relish the opportunity to learn from mistakes and creative failures.

That’s not to say one's ego doesn’t get in the way, eclipsing the value of that lesson if the embarrassment, fear, or anger are for the moment too strong. But when those shadows pass from before the sun, the hidden value is usually clear to see.

As a champion of feedback and learning loops, there is so much that is possible when we grab the lesson and take it on board. When we do that daily, practicing in public, the sharing of our work becomes a source of rapid improvement.

My personal feelings aside, personal growth is the process of coming to understand yourself and push yourself to reach your potential.

Given Medium’s near-obsession with personal growth, I can’t help but think a prompt like this invites wry parody.

A self-aware satirical look at personal growth, the ever-booming industry, or the gurus that ooze from the oak-paneled woodwork of our world.

Or how personal development for certain individuals could have massively impacted society. I’m thinking of the Joker hell-bent on a journey of self-discovery complete with explosively popular Instagram selfies.

Or perhaps the world's most famous villain would have done better to accept the rejection of his art. Imagine Hannibal Lecter going vegan. Or Norman Bates dealing with his mommy issues. Or Darth having that father-son chat a bit earlier.

This is the last Friday of March, so you know what that means.

You have 50 words to tell us a story of Personal Growth

• Use the sorting tag “Personal Growth” to help the home page put your story in the right place.
• No using Personal Growth in your title.
• We invite you to read each other's stories and provide feedback in the comments, you know, for personal growth. 😉

I found some journal prompts that might further help you think of more outlandish directions you could take your story. Inserting your favorite villain archetype or malevolent narcissist, of course.

1. What do I need more of in my life?
2. What do I need to let go of?
3. What are 5 ways that I can go out of my comfort zone this year?
4. What motivates me to keep going?
5. What does my ideal day look like?
6. What unhealthy habits do I need to cut out?
7. What is something I’ve wanted to do but have been too afraid to try?
8. What animal describes me as a person and why?
9. What does success mean to me?
10. What would I do if I knew I could not fail?

Personal Growth is important, and a vital process to many improving their mental well-being, but in this context let’s have a little fun at the expense of an industry that at times can be a bit full of itself.