Personal Development

CHAPTER 2

DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON

There are various elements involved in the holistic development of an individual. Holistic development
refers to the process of self-actualization and learning that combines an individual's mental, physical,
social, emotional, and spiritual growth" ("What is meant by holistic development," n.d.). Hence, for the
development of an adolescent to be holistic, it must involve the physiological, cognitive, psychological,
spiritual, and social aspects.

Learning Competency 2.1

The learner discusses the relationship among physiological, cognitive, psychological, spiritual, and social
development to understand his/her thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Lecture: On Holistic Development and Spiritual Growth

The following lecture discusses various aspects of holistic development. Take note how they are related
to one another and affect each other. The second part of the lecture focuses on developing the
adolescents to become spiritually developed.

The Aspects of Holistic Development

1. Physiological Development

During adolescence, a person experiences various body changes such as rapid body growth, hair growth,
and muscle modification in some parts of the body. These changes can make an adolescent feel
uncomfortable and self-conscious. Adolescents grow to reach their adult height and their bodies begin
to resemble adult bodies in size, shape, and body composition. The changes are preparing them to
become physically capable of biological reproduction

2. Cognitive Development

There's a considerable advancement in adolescents thinking skills They are beginning to think from
concrete to abstract terms and able to conceptualize theoretical ideas. Problems are now being
evaluated logically and scientifically. These changes in problem-solving and thinking abilities happen
concurrently with their social, emotional, and moral development.

The brain continues to develop, increasing the capacity to memorize and performing more complicated
process of information organization and retrieval. Yet, the brain's frontal lobe, which enables humans to
control sexual and emotional impulses, is not fully developed. Hence, there is continued struggle among
adolescents to restrain these impulses amidst the occurrence of strong emotional, social, or sexual
pressures partly brought about by the physiological development happening in them.

3. Psychological Development

Physiological and cognitive developments generate changes in the way adolescents feel and think about
themselves, others, and the surroundings. These changes in the emotions, feelings, moods, and manner
of thinking of persons are part of the psychological development,

During adolescence, individuals undergo the process of self evaluation which leads to long-range goal
setting, emotional and social independence, and maturity. There is thus an ongoing establishment of
strongly-held beliefs, values, and goals in life.

The psychological development varies according to the sub-stages within adolescence. In the early stage
of adolescence, the development centers on the formation of self-image partly as a consequence of
bodily changes. Adolescents in this stage begin to form their respective self-concept by being aware and
accepting what they have become physiologically and cognitively.
Upon reaching the middle stage of adolescence, they tend to lose ties with their parents or guardians
and become more independent especially in the way they think and feel. They also become adventurous
and start to experiment with various things and behaviors such as engaging in unusual and risky
activities. This therefore calls for checking and controlling one's behavior so as not to ruin one's future.
At this stage also, there is a conflict between one's set of values and the one expected by his/her
parents or guardians. The adolescent also starts to decide on his/her educational or vocational pursuits
and asserts self-dependence. On a positive note, there is a display of a sense of responsibility and the
desire to find out how he or she can contribute to society.

In the late adolescence, there arises a more stable sense of identity among adolescents. During this
time, they feel more psychologically Integrated. They exhibit concern for others through giving and
caring as opposed to the selfish acts and inability to delay gratification during childhood. By the end of
late adolescence, many of them would have realized already their functions in society, have established
realistic goals in life, and have been in the journey of realizing and achieving them.

4. Social Development

Especially during the middle adolescence stage, adolescents' clamor for Independence is evident. They
begin to rely more on their friends or peer groups for support than on their family. However, since peer
groups become more important to them than their family, adolescents are more prone to peer pressure
as they are expected to conform to the standards of their friends.

By late adolescence, there would be a re-establishment of good relationships with families as well as a
formation of significant relationships with other people and acquaintances. Whereas romantic
relationship in early adolescence is short-lived and fleeting, it is relatively longer and more stable in late
adolescence.

5. Spiritual Development

Adolescents begin to have interest in spiritual concerns. They start pondering on questions concerning
existence, essence, spirituality, religion, and God. Many would desire to establish a personal relationship
with the Creator and some would even be interested in taking on sacred vocation. Adolescents also
entertain and try to answer the existential questions such as 'Who am 1?, What brought me here? What
is the essence of life?,' and What happens after death?.' Some begin to seriously seek answers to
questions related to the concepts of life, existence, life meaning, trials, and miseries from the religious,
biblical. and spiritual realm.

On Becoming Spiritually Developed

Much of the exercises or trainings provided in most academic institutions, especially the secular ones,
focus on physiological, cognitive, psychological, and social development of students. Only sectarian
schools, perhaps, have definite curriculum on developing the students' spiritual dimension. But as can
be argued, spiritual development is as significant as, if not more important than other facets in an
individual's development.

As the Preface of this book promises that this reference will have plenty of maxims, adages, axioms, and
guidelines that are useful for the students' personal development, it provides, in this section, some
helpful guidelines on how to become spiritually developed. Through these guidelines, you would notice
that the things which concern spiritual development are also very much related to other aspects of
development, especially the cognitive. psychological, and social ones.

In his book Essential Life Lessons (2013), Filipino professor and blogger Jensen DG. Mañebog
enumerates some adages (with respective elucidations), which if internalized, are useful in one's
spiritual development. Under the chapter "On Faith and God," he lists the following guidelines, which
we print here with permission from the author:

1. View things optimistically through faith.

Faith sees things not as the way they literally appear. Through faith, even unpleasant things can appear
beneficial because faith provides a more holistic perspective of events.

2. Believe in the power of faith.

To live as human in this world, we need to have faith-faith in humanity, faith in the Creator, faith in the
inherent goodness of other people, etc. Just as a ship could not stably stay in one place without an
anchor, a man could not have a firm sense of direction without faith.
3. Recognize your worth as God's child.

This could help you not to be bothered much by things, like the unavoidable changes in relationships,
manners of doing things, familiar environments, and lifestyles-such as those caused by loss of loved
ones, money reversals, and needed resettlements. For even with a new set of people around you, new
environment, and new tasks to perform the fact remains that you have the privilege to ask and receive
from your Father

4. Believe that all things work together for good ..."

You would not fear any circumstance if you believe that "all things work together for good to [us) who
love God, to [us] who are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Fear, stress, and worries can be
dissolved by true optimism--that no matter what happens, God reigns, and He cares for His people, and
that for us, the best is yet to come.

5. Know your true worth.

Your true worth is not based upon your ability to play ball games like a star player, pass a test with an
"A." or accomplish a task in workplace better than others, but upon the fact that you are God's child.

6. Bring out the best in you.

Your being God's child encourages you to bring out the best in you in your earthly endeavors by doing
with all your might whatever your hand finds to do (Eccles. 9:10). Nonetheless, it reminds you that come
what may, you remain to be already truly successful, for God considers you as part of His "chosen ones,
holy and beloved" (Col. 3:12).

7. Live out your real reason for being.

Not to suggest that you become lazy, indifferent, nor stoic, being a true believer calls you to live life
rightly by living out your real reason for being "be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of
God and with what he requires of you." God can make you anything good you want to be, but you have
to surrender everything first to His hands, placing His will on top of your priorities.

8. "Let him have all your worries and cares."

By accomplishing God's purpose for your life through faithful obedience to His will (Eccl. 12:13), not only
do you allow Him to shape your life, but also you "Let him have all your worries and cares inasmuch as
"he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you" ( Pet. 5:7).

9. Don't allow your self-esteem to be wounded.

Being God's true servant instructs you not to allow your self-worth to be truly wounded, for with or
without other people wanting you, the Lord certainly cares for you. Your true value is based not on
anybody's criticism, but on the fact that though you were helpless and sinners and thus worthy of
condemnation. His Son died for you.

10. Use your hands for honest work.

"Being concerned above everything else with the kingdom of God" does not mean, of course, that God's
kingdom is the only thing you should be concerned with. In fact, the Bible itself also admonishes us to
use our hands for honest work (Eph. 4:28) or work to earn a living (I Thess. 3:12), But we must give
precedence to the matters that concern the spiritual

11. Remember that faith endures.

Without faith in anything, it is improbable to pass through the refining fire of painful setbacks and
failures in the process of rising as a renewed and improved being. Faith assists you to bear even agonies.

12. See God through the things He made.

Although He is spirit in nature, God manifests His power and manifold wisdom in the things He has
created. Although we cannot see His invisible attributes, we can perceive His eternal power and divine
nature especially through the marvelous things that He made. The very things He created, especially
those that delight you, are a testimony that He exists and can do much for you.

13. Believe that God is good.

In ethics, 'God is good' means that He is quite righteous. He favors goodness over wickedness. Loving
love and hating hatred, the good God wants you to behave in a virtuous way and not in an evil manner.

14. Keep in mind that God created your 'home.

The earth is our dwelling place and God made it. He created it like a father making a house for his
beloved child. True, a father does not necessarily die if the house he built is destroyed, but you offend
him whenever you abuse or misuse the abode he put together for you.

15. Always remember that you are chosen by God.

Even if you do not make "the most crucial free throw in basketball history" and thus receive the loudest
boos," your wife and children, and especially our most caring Father will, still love you. Though you were
not chosen for the "national team," or were the last one drafted, the fact remains that you have been
chosen by none less than the Father to serve Him.

16. Strengthen your faith.

Out of the blue, painful things come into our lives sometimes. We can't always comprehend them, but
we have to trust in the designer behind them. You may want to question it, but it pays to just have a
firm faith. It is during these rocky periods when things appear insurmountable and un-winnable that
your faith is granted the ideal setting for maturity.
17. "Be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God."

As regards the various concerns in life that cause stress, Christ Himself counsels us what we should think
and do so as not to be anxious about them: "Isn't life worth more than food? And isn't the body worth
more than clothes? ... Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Instead, be
concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will
provide you with all these other things'." (Matt. 6:25-33, TEV)

18. Do not allow yourself to be 'spiritually offended.

Some of the things we see in the world are not in accordance to God's will. Yes, God fundamentally
made everything, but many things have gone wrong and He seriously presses for our straightening them
out again. Never blame God.

19. Seek God.

We, humans are not mere material, organic beings-we, too, are fundamentally spiritual being with
spiritual needs. Seek God for spiritual blessings, strength, and guidance. Seek God first in our lives. Pray
to Him that He may help us in our day.

20. Have faith in Him.

Even secular Sociology attests that belief in God helps a lot in properly responding to stress and life
problems, in being capable of taking life's strains so as not to fall apart, and in avoiding to be seriously
disturbed by unhealthy worrying.

21. Pray to Him.

God understands us perfectly well. He knows everything about us our feelings, thoughts, plans, and
aspirations. But this doesn't mean that we no longer need to communicate with God. Pray to Him to
demonstrate your faith, submission, and trust in Him and to declare your praises and thanksgiving for all
the blessings you receive from Him everyday
22. "Ask God for what you need."

For true believers, the Apostle Paul has this advice on what to do when in need, instead of worrying:
"Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with
a thankful heart" (Fil. 4:6).

23. Read God's message through your experience.

If God wants us to change or to take positive action because we have gone astray, He communicates
that to us through the things that are happening to our life. God sends messages to us also through the
things that we experience. So learn to read the events that you are going through in life because these
experiences relate a message from God to you.

24. Consult the Holy Scriptures.

The words recorded in the Holy Scriptures were given through the

inspiration of God. What is recorded there is God's will, the message He wants to communicate or relay
to the people whom He created for their own benefit. The Holy Scriptures is profitable, especially for
man to be made worthy to serve God and attain salvation.

25. Listen to God's messengers

God also communicates with people through those whom He has sent to preach His written word. His
messengers speak for Him. By listening to them, one listens to Christ and to God. And if anyone refuses
to listen to them, he commits the sin of rejecting both God and Christ (Luke 10:16)

26. Remember that your life is in God's hands.

The life of every living creature, including all people, is in God's hands. No person, whatever his station
in life, be he rich or poor, young or old, strong or weak, wise or not, has control over his life. "In Him we
live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). In fact, God has appointed a time for a person's life to
end, and no one and nothing can prevent that from happening.

27. Examine your ways and turn back to Him.

What does God want you to realize and understand if you have veered away from His will or
commandments and are being punished for it? Lamentations 3:39-40 answers: "Why should we ever
complain when we are punished for our sin? Let us examine our ways and turn back to the Lord."

28. Know how to respond to His message in the right way.

Not only should you know how to read God's message through the things that are happening to you, but
you should also know how to respond in the right way. Return to obedience, instead of transgression, of
His will.

29. Present your requests to God.

Communicate your feelings, your aspirations, and even your needs to Him. Apostle Paul says, "Do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus"
(Phil. 4:6, 19).

30. Do not give up.

Not giving up is a command from the Lord. "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that
they should always pray and not

give up." (Luke 18:1)

31. Have faith that you will receive what you ask for in your prayer.

To receive what you are asking for, there is this virtue that you ought to possess. Jesus Christ
pronounced: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and
it will be yours." (Mark. 11:24)

32. Obey His commands and do what pleases Him.

Faith alone is not enough. To say that you have faith is one thing. to prove it is another. God has set a
condition for Him to grant us our requests in prayer: "And receive from him anything we ask, because
we obey his commands and do what pleases him" (I John 3:22). Obedience to God's command proves
our faith in Him.

33. Heed God's call.

Respond correctly to His message to you. When God is communicating to you through the teachings of
His messengers, or rebuking you through of the sad experiences and sufferings that He allows to happen
in your life, listen and respond positively. Lest, He would also not listen to you and would not come to
your rescue when you call on Him for help and comfort.

34. Listen to His Son.

It is God's command that we listen to His Son, our Lord Jesus who says, "I am the door anyone who
comes into the fold through me will be safe" (John 10:9). The fold or flock in which those who listened to
Christ's words can be found is identified in Acts 20:28 (Lamsa Translation). Those who have truly entered
Christ gained the right to receive His blessings not only in this life but most importantly in the life to
come.

Learning Competency 2.2

The learner evaluates his/her own thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Lecture: Evaluating One's Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors

Thought, feeling, and behavior are three different concepts that are related to one another. What are
thoughts? What are feelings? What are behaviors?

Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior

Thoughts may refer to the ideas or arrangements of ideas that result from thinking, the act of producing
thoughts, or the process of producing thoughts" ("Thoughts," n.d.).

Thoughts are cognitive. That is, they are mentally produced and possessed. It is usually clear to the
person when he or she is having thoughts that he or she can verbalize them. When expressed, thoughts
are normally in sentence form (e.g. "I think the movie was nice think the dress fits me.').

Thoughts are influential. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, "If you correct your mind, the
rest of your life will fall into place."

Feeling, on the other hand, denotes "a state of consciousness, such as that resulting from emotions,
sentiments or desires" ("Feelings." n.d.). Feelings are usually mild emotional states. Examples of feelings
are anger, sadness, fear, and happiness.

Behavior refers to the range of actions and mannerisms made by individuals, organisms. systems, or
artificial entities in conjunction with themselves or their environment, which includes the other systems
or organisms around, as well as the (inanimate) physical environment" ("Behavior or behaviour," n.d.).

Behaviors are usually seen, while thoughts feelings are not. Some examples of behavior are: a baby girl
kissing her mom, a child playing with her dolls, and a mother shouting for joy. Many behaviors happen in
conjunction with certain thoughts and feelings. For instance, the feeling of happiness is usually
accompanied by a smile or laughter, whereas the feeling of sadness is accompanied by crying or
frowning. Yet, some behaviors are not reflections of true feelings. A person may deliberately display a
behavior which does not match his or her true feeling,

The need to evaluate one's thoughts, feelings, and behavior

The following discussion focuses on the reasons why there is a need for a person to have an evaluation
of his or her thoughts, feelings, and behavior. This aims to encourage you, adolescents, to have constant
assessment of your respective thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

One's thoughts, feelings, and behavior are interconnected and interrelated. In fact, they influence and
affect one another. Hence, to regularly evaluate one's thoughts, for instance, is in a way assessing also
one's feelings and behaviors.

Most negative feelings and behaviors are generated by negative thoughts. The thought or belief, for
example, that a certain person (e.g. a classmate or a teacher) does not like you may produce adverse
feelings and hostile behaviors toward that person.

Adolescents would benefit much from the practice of evaluating one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
During adolescence, there are rapid changes and shifts in the person's feelings, moods, and behaviors-
hence the need to constantly check them.

Adolescents are also normally self-conscious and sensitive individuals. They are easily affected by
criticisms and by what other people say about them. They wish to always look good to other people and
this makes them worry about their imperfections, such as obesity and skin disorders. They tend to
compare themselves to their fellow adolescents.

Adolescent behavior is also characterized by self-centeredness, narcissism or self-love, and paranoia.

Adolescents think that other people's attention is constantly centered on their actions and appearance.
Sometimes, due to conflicts with their families, they also think that they are not loved and cared for by
their parents. Moreover, some adolescents have thoughts of being invincible, that nothing bad will
happen to them no matter what they do. Hence, some engage in risky behaviors such as driving under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The above-mentioned characteristics of adolescents explain the need for them to do self-evaluation.
Making it a habit to assess one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors will give them the opportunity to
appraise the truth or validity of one's beliefs, the appropriateness of one's feelings and emotions, the
decency of one's actions and behaviors.

Adolescents should also remember that we always have a choice on how we will look at things. The
people around us do not necessarily cause our feelings we are the ones responsible for them. We have a
choice, we have control over our feelings in the same way we have control over other choices in our
lives. Negative thoughts, counterproductive feelings, and self-destructive behaviors should not enslave
us. We have the power to rid ourselves of harmful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Learning Competency 2.3

On Holistic Development and Spiritual Growth

The Aspects of Holistic Development

1. Physiological Development

2. Cognitive Development

3. Psychological Development

4. Social Development

5. Spiritual Development

On Becoming Spiritually Developed

1. View things optimistically through faith.

2. Believe in the power of faith.

3. Recognize your worth as God's child.

4. Believe that all things work together for good ..."

5. Know your true worth.

6. Bring out the best in you.

7. Live out your real reason for being.

8. "Let him have all your worries and cares."

9. Don't allow your self-esteem to be wounded.

10. Use your hands for honest work.

11. Remember that faith endures.

12. See God through the things He made.

13. Believe that God is good.

14. Keep in mind that God created your 'home.

15. Always remember that you are chosen by God.

The learners show the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in actual life situations.
ACTIVITY 1: MY THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND BEHAVIORS

Objectives:

This enables you to differentiate and relate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in various situations.

Procedure:

Read the following situations and identify one possible feeling and one possible behavior that commonly
result from each situation and thought.

PART 1

PART 2

Discussion/Sharing

1. Was it hard to identify the possible feelings and behaviors from the given

situations?

2. Was it difficult to supply the possible thoughts in Part 2?

3. Did you see the connections among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors?

4. What did you realize about the activity?

Reflection/Insights

To have a deeper understanding on the relations among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, it may help
to have a knowledge on some theories in Psychology which deal with them: ah bio

The Cognitive Triangle

The natural connection among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is acknowledged in what psychologists
call the Cognitive Triangle. The term refers to a "psychological model encompassing the
interrelationships of thoughts, actions, and feelings surrounding an event" ("The Cognitive Triangle,"
n.d.).

This explanatory framework categorically declares that thoughts, feeling, and behaviors are
interconnected and elucidates how they affect each other It puts forward, for instance, that a change in
one of them produces a change to the others. This psychological model is actually one of the bases of a
psychological therapy called Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

This therapy is based on the work of two psychologists, Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck. Cognitive Behavior
Therapy (CBT) is a commonly used form of psychotherapy which aims to assist individuals in
understanding the link between thoughts and feelings and in realizing how these two impact behavior
Though individuals have no control over things around them, through CBT however people can control
the way they interpret things and the manner they behave in accordance to that Interpretation.

Its fundamental principle is that individuals usually have destructive thoughts and feelings that can
affect their functioning and relationships at home, work, school, and in the community. Through this
therapeutic intervention, an individual can change his thoughts which leads to a change In his feeling
and behavior. The key, therefore, is in the positive interpretation of things
For instance, when faced with a negative event, a person can either Interpret it negatively or positively.
When he/she interprets it negatively by thinking of undesirable thoughts about it, it may result in a
negative feeling and a negative behavior. On the other hand, when an event is construed as something
positive (though it can as well be taken as negative), it may lead to a positive feeling and eventually to a
helpful behavior. IT

Look at this example

Situation: Your mother arrived from work and went directly to her room. She did not even greet you nor
give you a glance

Negative thought. Mom is angry at me

Negative feeling: I feel sad.

Negative behavior I will not talk to her either

Now, notice how changing a negative viewpoint to a positive one could

alter feeling and behavior:

Situation: Your mother arrived from work and went directly to her room. She did not even greet you nor
give you a glance.

Positive thought: Maybe she has an urgent task to attend to or she is too tired.

Positive feeling: I am relieved.

Positive behavior. I will just say 'Hi' to her after she has rested enough or when she's done with her task.

QUIZ...

Name:

Year/Section:

Score:

Date:

1. Multiple Choices. Encircle the letter of the correct answer

1. The development pertaining to interest in religious concerns

a. Cognitive development c. Physiological development

b. Spiritual development d. Social development

2. Mild emotional states that result from emotions, sentiments or desires.

a. behaviors

b. thoughts
c. feelings

d emotions

An example of adolescent behavior which means excessive love for

oneself

a. narcissism

b. psychosis

c schizophrenia

d. paranoia

4. It refers to assessment of one's thoughts, feelings, and behavior

a. validation b, catharsis

C. self-evaluation

d. self-medication

5. These kinds of thoughts cause adverse feelings and behaviors.

a positive

b. optimistic

c. happy

d. negative

6. The philosopher who said, "If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place."

a. Plato

b. Lao Tzu

C. Socrates

d. Freud

7. In this stage of adolescence, there is an outcry for freedom and

Independence.

a. puberty
b. early

c. middle

d. late

8. This is the part of the adolescent's brain which controls sexual and emotional impulses which are not
yet fully developed.

a. parietal b. temporal

c. occipital d. frontal

9. The explanatory framework involving the interrelationships among thoughts, actions, and feelings
surrounding an event.

a. Personality Triangle

b. Isosceles Triangle

c. Cognitive Triangle

d. Equilateral Triangle

10. The form of psychotherapy which aims to provide assistance to individuals in understanding the
connection among thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

a. Cognitive Behavior Therapy c Group Therapy b. Emotion Focused Therapy d. Art Therapy
II. Essay

1. Explain how the physiological, cognitive, psychological, spiritual, and social developments are
interrelated in understanding thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

2. Why do you think an individual or adolescent should be developed in a "holistic" manner?

3. Define thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Discuss also their differences.

4. Relate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

5. Cite your own experience/s that provides a clear manifestation of the connection among thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors.