ABSTRACT
Throughout the lifecycle we all develop psychologically. We develop new skills, competencies and strengths. We confront opportunities for growth and development and challenges that place demands on our capacity for coping. For example, at transitional points between stages of the lifecycle presented in Table 8.1 in the previous chapter, we face such events as leaving home, marriage, having children, and so forth. Each of these transitions offers an opportunity to develop new skills, but they may also challenge our
coping skills to the limit. For example, leaving the security of the family and living alone or with friends offers the opportunity to develop confidence and independence but we may also face the challenges of rejection by others, loneliness, poverty, and so forth. We may cope well with these challenges by finding ways to connect with other people and ways to carefully manage a small budget. Alternatively, we may use dysfunctional coping strategies such as self-isolation, confrontation, excessive drinking and over-eating. These in turn can lead to the development of bad habits such as depression, aggression, addiction and obesity, which themselves are further opportunities and challenges. In this chapter, the focus will be on addressing opportunities and challenges in ways that promote positive change, personal growth and development.
