Development Dictionary
In the world of personal development, many of the concepts discussed are nuanced and difficult to define. A shared understanding of the language used can be helpful. So, I’ve put together a Development Dictionary with various definitions from the authors and experts I most admire.
PS – This also became a great list of book recommendations!
coaching (v): According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Code of Ethics, coaching is, “partnering with Clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
https://coachingfederation.org/ethics/code-of-ethics
compassion (n): After much research, Dr. Thupten Jinpa defines compassion as, “a sense of concern that arises when we are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to see that suffering relieved.”
Jinpa, T. (2015). A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to Be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives. Avery.
creative living (v): I feel it’s important to note that the concept of creative living is accessible to everyone, regardless of artistic talent, profession, or prestige. It was coined and defined by Elizabeth Gilbert as, “living a life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.”
Gilbert, E. (2016). Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
creativity (n): Defining creativity can feel as elusive as the concept itself. Elizabeth Gilbert has summarized it as simply, “the relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration.”
Gilbert, E. (2016). Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
emotional agility (v): Grounded in wholistic wellbeing, Dr. Susan David coined this concept as, “being flexible with your thoughts and feelings so that you can respond optimally to everyday situations.”
David, S. (2016). Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life. Avery.
faith (v): Notice the grammatical qualification of this word as a verb and not a noun. Sharon Salzberg subscribes to the definition that, “Faith is not a singular state that we either have or don’t have, but is something that we do. We “faithe.” [Faith] is the willingness to take the next step, to see the unknown as an adventure, to launch a journey.”
Salzberg, S. (2002). Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience. Riverhead Books.
fixed mindset (n): Counter to a growth mindset (see definition below), this credo is defined by Dr. Carol Dweck as “believing that your qualities are carved in stone.”
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books.
growth mindset (n): A more expansive credo than a fixed mindset (see definition above), Dr. Carol Dweck defines this as, “the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts, your strategies, and help from others.”
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books.
integrity (n): Separating it from its moral implications, Martha Beck takes this word back to its roots, stating, “…the word comes from the Latin integer, which simply means “intact.” To be in integrity is to be one thing, whole and undivided.”
Beck, M. (2022). The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self. The Open Field.
joy (n): To truly grasp the nuance of joy, I recommend reading The Book of Joy. It’s a conversation between Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Southern Africa. The depth of their exploration is vast, but overall they suggest that “lasting joy – joy as a way of being – …is probably closest to the “shining contentment” or the “spiritual radiance” born from deep well-being and benevolence.”
Lama, D., Tutu, D., & Abrams, D. C. (2016). The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. Avery.
leader (n): In my favorite definition of this word, Brené Brown says, “A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential.”
Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts. Random House.
power (n): In her book, Kemi Nekvapil turns power into an acronym in order to “show us how to build power from the inside out.” Her POWER structure involves Presence, Ownership, Wisdom, Equality, and Responsibility.
Nekvapil, K. (2022). POWER. Penguin Random House.
presence (n): Amy Cuddy defines this “moment-to-moment phenomenon” as, “the state of being attuned to and able to comfortably express our true thoughts, feelings, values, and potential.”
Cuddy, A. (2018). Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges. Little, Brown Spark.
surrender (v): Throughout their inspiring conversation, Dr. Sarah Lewis gives us the definition, “[to] give over to something larger than ourselves,” while Brené Brown echoes that surrender is, “the idea of giving over and not giving up.” A powerful distinction.
Brown, B., & Lewis, S. (2021, January 25). Creativity, Surrender, and Aesthetic Force. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nlFwMOk61e9xAOOLmFQoq
vulnerability (n): There is no better expert to define this concept than Brené Brown. She says vulnerability is, “the emotion that we experience during times of uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure”
Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts. Random House.
whole brain living (v): In one of the most compelling books and TED Talks, neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor vividly describes the stroke that shut down the entire left hemisphere of her brain. Over the course of eight years, she rebuilt the injured circuitry. Through this process she learned that “we each have four distinctive groups of cells, divided between our two brain hemispheres, that generate four consistent and predictable personalities.” Therefore, whole-brain living is when “we know, understand, and nurture our own Four Characters, their relationship with one another, and their collective power within us, [to] promote our own cognitive, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness.”
Bolte Taylor, J. (2021). Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life. Hay House Inc.
