Self Development is Rooted in Culture

By: Alyssa Chitolie

For the longest time, self development was marketed as simply “becoming a better version of yourself”, without considering many individualistic factors such as culture, economic and personal differences. What does this statement actually mean—and who defines what “better” actually looks like?

At its core, self-development is not just about setting goals or building habits. It’s about understanding who you are, where you come from, and how your lived experiences shape your outlook, values, and growth. In this sense, culture becomes the foundation of self-development—it informs your mindset, healing practices, and even your vision of success.

Identity as a Foundation

Identity is the foundation of who you are. As a woman of Indo-Caribbean heritage, like many I’ve often struggled to explain my roots. Many people have a limited, stereotypical view of what Caribbean identity looks like—often shaped by mainstream media depictions that don’t account for the region’s complex history. When people learned I was Caribbean, I was frequently met with confusion, disbelief or denial.

But the Caribbean is a vibrant mosaic. Our ancestors came from Africa, India, China, Europe, and the Indigenous peoples of the region. In Trinidad and Guyana alone, the Indo-Caribbean community makes up a significant portion of the population, a legacy of indentureship after slavery was abolished in the 1800s. Yet this history is often underrepresented and misunderstood.

The lack of education motivated me to create my platform Roots and Research, my goal was to bridge this gap — to increase cultural awareness around Indo-Caribbean identity while highlighting how many traditional lifestyle practices, like Ayurveda, are deeply intertwined with self-development.

Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old Indian system of medicine, emphasizes harmony between mind, body, and spirit. Though ancient, modern research continues to validate many Ayurvedic practices. Studies published in journals like Frontiers in Psychology and the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine have shown how Ayurvedic techniques like meditation, breathwork and herbal remedies can reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and regulate inflammation (Telles et al., 2015; Sharma et al., 2018). This demonstrates that the concept of Ayurveda is not just “woo-woo” wellness, it’s science backed self development rooted in ancestral knowledge. 

The Science Behind Mindset and Manifestation

Practices that are implemented in Ayurveda such as manifestation and visualization are often associated with pseudoscience or spirituality, but also have neuroscientific backing. Studies in neuroscience suggest that mentally rehearsing success and visualizing positive outcomes can activate similar neural pathways as the real experience. Your brain’s default mode network — the system involved in self-reflection and future planning — can be rewired through consistent practice (Fox et al., 2015; Schacter et al., 2007).

This is why affirmations, gratitude journaling, and acting “as if” you’ve already achieved your goals can be powerful. Your brain can’t distinguish between imagined and real experiences, and it starts to align your perception, attention, and behavior with the outcomes you expect, this is a concept known as neuroplasticity.

Self-development is often marketed as something modern and new, but truthfully, our ancestors have been doing this work for generations. Practices like mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, and journaling are not modern inventions , they are cultural inheritances repackaged for a new audience.

Gratitude, Growth, and Cultural Connection

In a fast-paced world that’s always chasing the next big thing, we rarely pause to reflect on how far we’ve come. Self-development without cultural grounding can feel hollow, like trying to build on an unsteady foundation. Culture gives context. It gives us meaning.

Understanding your roots not only helps you know who you are, it helps you grow intentionally. Because when you heal with cultural wisdom, align with your ancestral values, and honor your unique identity, you don’t just become a “better version” of yourself…

You become a more authentic one.

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Alyssa Chitolie is the founder of Roots and Research. Follow her on Instagram @rootsandresearch21 to learn more about her work.