“Vertical development” adds the word “vertical” to clarify the type of development being described.
This distinction matters because when most organizations talk about “development,” they usually mean horizontal development — gaining new knowledge or skills while operating from the same underlying sense of self.
Vertical development, by contrast, transforms your sense of self — the way you perceive yourself and the world (your worldview). It reshapes not only your identity but also the way you make meaning.
Why is this important?
Many people today are experiencing changes in how they see themselves and the world, yet they may not understand what’s happening to them.
In other words, if this is happening to you, you’re not abnormal. You’re going through a natural process that can feel strange at first.