Questers - Excerpt 3

Adulthood is not a plateau; it is a time of change. Adults continue to grow and develop throughout life—mentally, psychologically, interpersonally, and spiritually. Recent studies describe adult growth and development as a cycle that follows an underlying, universal path. Many influences along the way shape this course. They may produce alternate routes or detours, they may speed up or slow down the timetable, or they may stop the developmental journey altogether. This journey continues as long as you live, following a basic sequence of stages, issues, and concerns. This is called life cycle theory, and it assumes that you will pass through the stages as long as you continue to realize your potential.

Life Cycle Basics

Your personality or identity is formed by many external and internal influences. Your culture, occupation, social class, family, interpersonal relationships, leisure activities, social roles, image, and participation in world events constitute the external forces. Your internal realm includes your body build, brain, genetic makeup, temperaments, eyes, hands, feet, and internal organs. Throughout life, these two systems interact to influence your identity. As events in the external system are interpreted by the internal system, crucial shifts in needs and values can throw you off balance. These are signals telling you to change and move on to the next stage. These shifts occur throughout life. Sadly, however, many people don’t recognize them…

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