For much of my life, I always though growth happened one way: from painful learning experiences. It wasn't until I began having a lot of successes that I realized that growth comes in many styles, and success makes you grow as much as pain. I realized that growth is what we're all doing every second, by default. We can't wake up to another day without absorbing all kinds of new ideas and thoughts and experiences. It's the QUALITY of those experiences (or growth) we need to pay attention to.
Now, for me, EVERY moment is a growth situation. And most of my moments are neutral (I'm on the phone, I'm making dinner, etc) to pleasant (watching TV, enjoying a hobby) to downright enjoyable (spending time at the beach with my family, laughing with friends or my husband or mom).
Some moments are less than enjoyable—that's true (arguing with customer service, dealing with an upset colleague, being sick), but ALL my experiences are GROWTH experiences, not just these so-called "negative" ones, because in every one I am a NEW being, different from who I was moments before, and I have choices on how to behave or feel about everything I encounter.
I no longer fear growth. I DO want to avoid pain and suffering as a means to growth, and so I Flow to stay healthy, and keep my family safe and harmonious, and things like that. In other words, I am consciously choosing my growth experiences, and trusting Flow to make them feel good and healthy as I move into each one.
What are your thoughts on growth?
