Top 10 Personal Development Concepts – Part 1

Can you believe it, Gemstone Life Coaching is turning 10 this year! In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we’ve updated our website to help you navigate your options and to better serve you. As this is my first post on the new website, I’d like to say Welcome! In this post I will outline items 1-4 in my list of top 10 personal development concepts.

After 10 years of being in this business, a lot has changed. I’ve changed! I’ve learned a lot about myself, this business and people in general.

As a tribute to the past decade, I’d like to make this post about the top 10 personal development concepts that I feel strongly about and have utilized the most over the past decade. 

In future posts, I will go into more detail for concepts 5 – 10. These 5 blogs will be posted weekly on Wednesday mornings. I’m also including a bi-line called “In One Coaching Session.” Which will briefly explain, the concept, and what you will gain about yourself in just 1 session.  Throughout the months of April and May, I will also be promoting a Special Offer – a new Coaching Program called “My Quest.”  More about that on the next blog.

Sandy’s Top 10 Personal Development Concepts

1. Life is all about GROWTH

One thing that I love about coaching, is that we are encouraged to continue learning and growing.  With learning as one of my core values, this is a good fit for me.  I believe the more we know about ourselves, the more we can grow, develop and mature.  The questions to ask yourself are:  Who are you becoming?  Are you moving forward and becoming the best version of yourself?  Are you growing in love and good character? Are you committed to self compassion and care that you are willing to invest in your own narrative story, and re-write the your next chapter?

2. Gemstone Life Coaching, discover the treasure within– I love the name of my business!

Many years ago I was told by one of my colleagues, ‘you can’t name your business that!’  Why Not? I thought!

As individuals, we all are like a precious gemstone. Over time we may get lost in the debris of life.  However, each one of us is precious, glorious, and has striking unique features. At our core – we are all valuable gems, and need to recognize our brilliance, uniqueness, and worthiness.  

My bi-line still rings true still today – ”discover the treasure within

Although we are all precious gemstones, life has a way of dumping stuff on us.  Over time we can lose ourselves, and our purpose.  We get caught up in our responsibilities, and what others want us to be.  In order to keep up with the status quo, we somehow lose who we really are, and no longer see our value and worth.  At some point in life, we have an aha moment, and wake up to realize we need to be unearthed, mined, discovered and then polished. 

“what you seek is already within you”

3. The Triad of Life Coaching

Life Coaching 101 focuses on the concepts of self awareness, self acceptance and self accountability.

First, you become aware of who you are and your own unique circumstances and situations.  It’s like you have been in the darkness and someone turns on the light. This may be an aha, but suddenly you are vastly aware of yourself.  It is like you are hovering above and observing yourself.  

Second, is self acceptance.  You need to accept your own reality, and how you have contributed to it.  What is your part of the puzzle?  How did you get here?  It is what it is!

Third, is self accountability.  It is difficult to change old habits and patterns.  If we are serious about changing ourselves, it is in our best interest to put some resources into hiring someone to hold us accountable and walk with us as we take baby steps forward.  It is too easy to fall back to our old comfortable patterns. Our natural response is most often resistance.  We resist what we do not know!

4. To borrow a phrase from Oprah – “What I know For Sure!

The only thing certain in life is change! After a decade of being in this business, I’ve come alone side of dozens of men and women as they endeavour to embrace the changes that have come their way.

“Change is inevitable, growth is optional”

Some of those changes have been inflicted upon them as they experience loss:  loss of relationships, jobs, health, etc.

Others, they choose out of desperation to feel alive.  They shed the status quo and forge ahead like a narrow stream meandering through the dessert.

Yet again, What I know for sure, is that the more we understand ourselves and our  reactions, the easier it is to make better and wiser choices, which support your authentic self and the values that you live by.


Check out Top 10 Personal Development Concepts – Part 2, overviewing items 5-10. For individual coaching on any of these concepts contact me, your first session is free!