Personal Growth

[DISCLAIMER]

There are many approaches to personal and professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). Personally, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is the preferred method to rational living that has been most beneficial.

With my approach to mental health in this regard, I focus on the individual. Understandably, this methodology may not be desirable for all cultures, communities, or character types. Alas, people are free to like different things. Concerning my preference, personal growth is a main focus.

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines growth as “the series of physical changes that occur from conception through maturity” and “the development of any entity toward its mature state.” This isn’t the growth to which I’m referring, as one source states:

Personal growth is a continuous journey of self-discovery and improvement. It can involve developing one’s capabilities, gaining new skills, learning how one fits into the world around one, and enhancing one’s understanding of oneself. Through personal growth, individuals expand their capabilities, enrich their relationships, and create more meaningful careers and lives.

Sometimes I encounter critiques of personal growth, claiming that self-focus of this sort is a form of neurotic (emotionally unstable) narcissism (excessive self-love or egocentrism). Yet, I disagree, as I stress the importance of improving one’s level of functioning and quality of life.

As an example, focusing on my physiological and psychological level of functioning (an activity of an organ or an organism that contributes to the organism’s fitness) relates to flexible structure and routine. For instance, because life is often uncertain, I create opportunity for predictability.

Specifically, I try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time daily, conduct physical training on a foreseeable schedule, and eat at a roughly known time when possible. This self-care routine affords me the chance to divvy up time for personal and professional practice of REBT.

While many of my clients cannot adopt a similar daily agenda for various reasons (i.e., having an in-home family, working in different occupational fields, etc.), I remain grateful to practice self-growth as I do. Thus, I enjoy an improved quality of life which the APA thusly defines:

[T]he extent to which a person obtains satisfaction from life. The following are important for a good quality of life: emotional, material, and physical well-being; engagement in interpersonal relations; opportunities for personal (e.g., skill) development; exercising rights and making self-determining lifestyle choices; and participation in society. Enhancing quality of life is a particular concern for those with chronic disease or developmental and other disabilities, for those undergoing medical or psychological treatment, and for older adults.

Unlike the erudite behavior exhibited by many of my colleagues in the mental health field, I’ve been diagnosed with some of the psychological conditions for which a number of my clients also quality. Therefore, personal growth is important so that I may help myself and other individuals.

In this regard, does my explanation and justification for the healthy practice of personal growth sound like neurotic narcissism to you? It doesn’t to me. Likewise, the clients with whom I work – who tailor their own flexible structure and routine schedules – report that it works for them.

One source reports a distinction between personal growth and development by stating, “Personal development specifies the focus of the ‘what’ that is evolving, while personal growth entails a much more holistic view of broader concepts including morals and values being developed.”

From this perspective, I regard it a morally good practice to focus on improving one’s level of functioning and quality of life. As such, my values-based view of personal growth is that it’s better to continually develop as an individual than not. How about you? What do you think?

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Egocentrism. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/egocentrism

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Function. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/function

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Growth. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/growth

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2023, November 15). Narcissism. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/narcissism

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2023, November 15). Quality of life. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/quality-of-life

East Ohio College. (2024, September 4). Personal growth: What it is and why it matters. Retrieved from https://eastohio.edu/personal-growth-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/

Hollings, D. (2025, December 1). A diagnosis is a form of hypothesis. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-diagnosis-is-a-form-of-hypothesis

Hollings, D. (2025, November 19). An erudite know-it-all engaging in virtue signaling and purity testing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/an-erudite-know-it-all-engaging-in-virtue-signaling-and-purity-testing

Hollings, D. (2026, January 18). Cultivating character… right now. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/cultivating-character-right-now

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Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2024, January 22). Flexible structure and routine. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/flexible-structure-and-routine

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Hollings, D. (December 19). Gratitude: Thankful for those who’ve helped me. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/gratitude-thankful-for-those-who-ve-helped-me

Hollings, D. (2022, May 31). Holistic approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/holistic-approach-to-mental-health

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, October 21). Impermanence and uncertainty. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/impermanence-and-uncertainty

Hollings, D. (2025, October 13). Knowledge, wisdom, understanding. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/knowledge-wisdom-understanding

Hollings, D. (2025, January 14). Level of functioning and quality of life. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/level-of-functioning-and-quality-of-life

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2022, June 23). Meaningful purpose. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/meaningful-purpose

Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health

Hollings, D. (2025, November 16). Mental health, mental illness, and mental disorder. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-health-mental-illness-and-mental-disorder

Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics

Hollings, D. (2024, September 22). Neurotic beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/neurotic-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, October 27). Physiological and psychological fitness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/physiological-and-psychological-fitness

Hollings, D. (2025, May 3). Predictability of logic. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/predictability-of-logic

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, May 15). Rational living. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-living

Hollings, D. (2024, March 14). REBT and emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-and-emotions

Hollings, D. (2024, May 16). Relevant skills. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/relevant-skills

Hollings, D. (2025, January 15). Satisfaction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/satisfaction

Hollings, D. (2025, October 9). Self-awareness, self-examination, and self-determination. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-awareness-self-examination-and-self-determination

Hollings, D. (2024, May 6). Self-care. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-care

Hollings, D. (2024, April 19). Self-focus. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-focus

Hollings, D. (2026, January 25). Self-improvement from a Sisyphean perspective. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-improvement-from-a-sisyphean-perspective

Hollings, D. (2025, November 18). Self-love and self-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-love-and-self-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2024, November 24). Values. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/values

Hollings, D. (2024, September 29). Well, well, well. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/well-well-well

Hollings, D. (2025, April 22). What is within your ability to control? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/what-is-within-your-ability-to-control

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Personal development. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_development