Self INVESTMENT not Self improvement... "Your 'Self” was created in the image and likeness of your Creator. How can you believe that your 'Self' needs to be or can be improved? Self improvement is contradictory to your Creation." ~ Sumner Davenport ~ Investing in ourselves starts with understanding the difference between the Self, (the person) and a person's behaviors. "In all persons, all creatures, the Self is the innermost essence. And it is identical with Brahman: our real Self is not different from the ultimate Reality called God." ~The Upanishads "Many individuals like undiscovered diamonds, have shining qualities hidden underneath the debris of a rough exterior." ~ Michelle Green ~ "When we invest in ourselves we are doing the best we are capable of every day." By saying a person needs to improve themselves suggests that they are wrong, are incomplete or imperfect by someone else's standards.  A great deal of guilt and damage is made to a person's self esteem when they believe they are not as successful, as beautiful, as wealthy, as (fill in the blank) as someone else. There is a great amount of media and marketing that suggest a product, a look, a job or (fill in the blank) will improve a person. We believe that the choices we make in our personal and professional life are based on the information we have at the moment, our premature cognitive commitments, our experiences, our education, our fears and other reactions. Investing in ourselves can allow us to RESPOND rather than REACT. When we invest in ourselves we look at the reasons for our choices and keep those choices that help us to reach our desired results. " When we invest in ourselves we set our own standard and measurement of success." ~ April Goodling ~ When we invest in ourselves we listen from inspired guidance and then choose the education, resources and type of support, and our actions that assist us to achieve our desired results.