Carey Blakely

self development and personal growth blog
A discourse on self-development
flourish blog - personal growth and self development

Life during Covid really got me thinking about self-development and what it takes to flourish—and what can get in the way. With Flourish I explore how you and I can live authentically, pursue goals that we stick to, deal with obstacles, persevere, and ultimately thrive. 

To flourish is to “grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way.” As a noun it’s “a bold or extravagant gesture or action.” 

Let’s grow vigorously and be bold about it!

avoid the second arrow of suffering

Don’t Get Slain by the Second Arrow

We can’t control the incidents that strike us, but we can control our reaction to them. Learn about the first arrow versus the second, according to a Buddhist teaching.

show respect and be of value to the world

Contribute Value & Ask for Value in Return

The year 2022 can feel like overpriced underperformance. But what might happen if we contributed more value to the world and asked for more value in return?

getting unstuck and finding your path

Making Peace with Restlessness

When restlessness and frustration hit, what do you do to calm your mind and make good decisions?

be true to yourself

Freeing Yourself From a Negative Narrative

We can become aware of how we are treating ourselves and, in doing so, break the trance. This is vital on the path to personal growth and development.

climbing your way to a creative high

The Creative Leap and Chasm

When it’s time to release your work from the hidden space where you toiled into the outer world of humans with eyes and preferences and opinions, there’s a great moment of tension. The tension is where fear and excitement grapple with each other. Despite their differences, both ask what if? . . .