Humans: Developing

Hey, hey... are you growing? Maybe you feel like you’ve grown enough. Or, you’ve lived long enough to stop growing.Or, maybe you’re just saying here’s another coach always yakking on about the importance of growth and development.Yes... I am that. And this month you'll find out why.

Author

Regina Lowe
July 11, 2025

THE GUIDED LIFE

The Guided Life

Welcome to the premiere issue of The Guided Life, your curated journal for all things life and leadership enhancement. Each edition brings you information, tools, tips (and maybe tricks) to empower you to increase your impact. This newsletter is brought to you by the Guided Life and Leadership Institute, focusing on holistic enhancement for life and leadership with a Christian foundation.

This month, we take a look at the importance of development, the phases of human development, tools for development, and a Bible Study to guide us to get out of our ruts!

DEVELOPMENT: CRUCIAL

An extremely important part of life is to develop as a human. This isn’t about our personalities, but how we’re growing and expanding our perspectives and understanding about life.

What makes this important? That’s a good question. We could choose to not expand and develop. That is a right that anyone has.

But choosing to develop, and allowing life to transform you is paramount to the human journey. Selfishly, when we avoid developing and transformation, we simply miss out on a level of joy and flourishing in life. Remaining in the same place robs us from a pleasure in life that can only be found as we develop as humans.

Non-selfishly, when we avoid developing, we hurt others around us. Yes. Our lack of growth impedes our relationships and impact on other people and the world around us.

You know the old adage… hurt people hurt people… think of development along those same lines.

Not developing keeps others from developing.

PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT

Here are some phases of adult development, adopted from Jennifer Garvey Berger’s paper “Adult Development Theory and Executive Coaching Practice” (see below for the full citation…).

PRINCE / PRINCESS

The prince or princess only has their own perspective. It’s hard for them to understand or know the perspective of others (and they may not care). They’re typically self-centered and focused on “I”.

JOURNEYMAN

They’re able to take on and embrace other people’s perspectives and theories. They begin to see the world through other people’s perspectives and will use that for guidance in their own lives, actions, and thinking. In this phase, they’re starting to be devoted to something bigger than themselves.

CEO

The CEO maintains their own perspective while taking in others. They will use other people’s views and opinions to strengthen their own.

ELDER

They are able to take in all perspectives and uses those viewpoints to transform their own thinking. Elders are willing to risk their own viewpoint to grow, expand, and become more inclusive.

Where are you?

Based on a study sited by Ms. Berger, most people are at the Journeyman phase. Few are at the CEO phase. And even fewer are Elders. I think this is evident when you look at our society today. A lack of human development is impacting the lives and wellbeing of everyone. But, the hope is that as we continue to develop, and more of us are moving towards CEO and Elder, we’ll see a true change in our lives, and society as a whole.

Boring, but important, citation: Berger, J.G. (2006). Adult Development Theory and Executive Coaching Practice. In D. R. Stober & A. M. Grant (Eds.), Evidence Based Coaching Handbook: Putting Best Practices to Work for Your Clients (pp. 77-102). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

HOW TO DEVELOP

Assuming you want to develop as a human, there are ways to do it.

Most of it involves being willing to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, challenging your own thoughts, and being open to hearing and learning from others. Yep, you’ve heard it before. Nothing or no one changes without going through a change process. Change is uncomfortable, but worth it.

This Forbes article How Expanding Your Perspective Can Transform Your Life gives 4 succinct ways that will help you do it.

A SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE

From a spiritual perspective, God speaks to human development. Check out this Bible Study, “Get Out the Rut” for a look at how to break out of our ruts that keep us from developing as God intends.

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Until next time,

Psalm 32:8 - May your life be guided!

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