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When we were young our parents would measure our growth. We are now taller than last spring. We can now do the alphabet, etc.
As we get older no one seems to keep track of our growth, including ourselves. Somehow we stopped thinking about our own development and growth.
I am a big fan of the author/speaker, John C. Maxwell. He talks about the fact that people can become so goal oriented that they lose sight of their growth. When they strive to achieve something and then actually get what they wanted, it doesn’t fulfill them. If they focused on their personal growth they are likely to be more complete.
The philosophy of growth is simple. You must stretch yourself and think more, do more and be more. “Grow” is define as: “to increase in size by a natural process. To expand or gain.”
We can grow in many different ways:
Read more books.
Take up a new hobby.
Travel.
Spend time with interesting people.
Exercise
Attend a seminar.
….the list is endless.
Growing is easy for some and not so easy for others. But why? Are they afraid? Do they lack purpose? ( Why do I need to grow?)
“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” – John C. Maxwell.
To Grow or not to Grow….that is the question.
“Connecting the dots of life’s Journey.”
Mike Mack
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
It becomes critical “that you continue to grow” the farther your career progresses and the older you get. It is really challenging to find the confidence “to grow” when you are perceived by society or others as someone who should move out of the way and that you are void of new ideas, energy and interest.
It is fun to overachieve and win and when you are not expected to be in the game!
Mike you’re amazing…never really stopped to think about the many facets of growth…physically I have shrunk 4 inches as the years piled up and my health has suffered a bit…but mentally I have grown greatly… at 85 afterl a long life of working and achieving, I was forced into retirement against my will…What to do?…Is this the end of a fulfilled life?…I began to mope around and slip into the stereotyped life style of the old and retired…one day I found that i could make people laugh and in doing so I felt great… a new career in Stand-up Comedy evolved…I’m in demand to perform both for charity and for a fee and at almost ninety, life is again good…I’ve grown!…Thanks for making me realize how lucky I am.