August 28, 2023
“Personal growth is not automatic. Change is a matter of choice. No one can passively sit around and expect to grow.” – Ron Malhotra
Everyone would agree that growth is good, but relatively few people dedicate themselves to the process. Why? Because development requires change, and change is hard for most people. But the truth is that without change, growth is impossible.
Most people fight against change, mainly when it affects them personally. As novelist Leo Tolstoy said, "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." The ironic thing is that change is inevitable. Everybody has to deal with it in their lives. On the other hand, growth is optional. You can choose to grow or to fight it. But know this: people unwilling to grow will never reach their potential.
Changing from an occasional learner to someone dedicated to personal growth is tough. It goes against the grain of the way most people live. We live in a society with destination disease. Most people celebrate when they "arrive," yet when you’re dedicated to personal growth, you don’t “arrive.” It’s a lifelong attitude and lifestyle.
People who are constantly improving themselves make three processes an ongoing cycle in their lives:
Preparation: When individuals are intentional about learning something every day, they become better prepared to handle whatever challenges they meet.
Contemplation: Time alone is essential to self-improvement. It allows you to gain perspective. It gives you the time and space to sharpen your personal vision. And it enables you to plan how you can improve in the future.
Application: Musician Bruce Springsteen said, "A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." In other words, you need to apply what you've learned.
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going! – Beverly Sills
Intentionally Own It Reflection: In which area/s of life will you expand? What growth do you get to move toward right now? What makes this matter to you? How can you count on yourself to consistently move in this direction?