The Connection between Personal Development and Waste Collection

Initially far-fetched, for sure, seeing plastic removal before and after photos in a personal development context. And yet, it is about values and being the change we want.

Many of us embark on our personal development journey because we want to change something. Perhaps we want to grow and develop ourselves, perhaps we want to start or stop doing something, perhaps something is annoying us. Whatever it is, you can’t delegate the change you want to someone else.

Taking that first step to do SOMETHING can be daunting. Here is the good news. If you have recognised and accepted that you want change, you have already taken that first step. Actively pursuing your change is the second step. Along the way, you will encounter challenges, difficulties and setbacks. If you believe in your ‘why’, you will continue on your journey. Your changes may be incremental and others may not notice. Often times, there is no acknowledgement. That is why the intrinsic value of your ‘why’ is important. You have to want the change - for yourself. At some stage, you will look back on your journey and say, “hey me, that was well done. I stuck with it, I overcame the challenges and I reached my goal. I did it for myself.”

Ok, now you’re wondering where the plastic waste comes in?

The plastic in the trees and fence lines, remnants from the floods, have annoyed me on many occasions and I thought, SOMEBODY has to do SOMETHING. Note the tendency to want to delegate what needed to be done. I had started one initiative and reached out for help, but didn’t get any. Stuff that, I’ll leave it, nobody cares anyway. Then it hit me. This is just like personal development. If I want the change (the plastic is a hazard for animals, we don't want it in our waterways and food chain and it's an eye sore), I have to do the work. And so last week Wednesday (my day off), I drove 160 km to spend 6 hours collecting the soft plastic from fence lines and trees. I was alone.

Throughout the 6 hours a few cars passed by, not one stopped to ask what I was doing or to acknowledge the work. To disentangle one particular tree from the fine plastic netting took me 40 minutes. Part of me wanted that acknowledgement, I am honest.. But the more work I did, the more I felt that inner sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I was doing it for myself, not for others nor their thank you. At the end, I looked over the stretch of road I had done. I had removed all the plastic I could reach and collect. It looked better and the tree branches were gently swaying in the breeze. On the way home, I had a smile on my face. I did what I had set out do.

Is there more to do in terms of the cleanup? For sure. That is another topic and I need help for that (check out the photos where there is no after photo).

Small changes can make a difference. Why personal development is not a waste.

But.

I believe that if something is really important to you and you want to drive change and make a difference, you show that you are willing to do the work yourself. That you are committed. That you won't let a setback hold you back from achieving what you want. You lead by example.

I understand how hard it can be.

If you want to know more or are interested in working with me, contact me at sonja@adventureyourself.com.au