Part 2 of 3
Wanting to grow is not enough. You must hunger for it. You must be committed to it. You must put it into motion. Even on days when you do not feel like it. A small step – day in, day out, adds up on your growth journey.
Frankly, there will be days when you question your growth. Your path and even your worth! That is why I recommend these 5 mindset must haves. They can be utilized especially in moments like these, helping you to stay grounded. And realigning your outlook of your growth journey.
Ideally, John C. Maxwell, in his book: The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, writes about growing concepts. These concepts are powerful when assessed apart. And invaluable when actioned together. If you haven’t already read part 1 (one) of my review, go ahead and read now. The first five (5) laws are reviewed there.
Trusting that you have read the first 5 laws, let’s continue!
Disclosure: Hi Rooters! This post contains affiliate links. Meaning, if you use the links to buy something referred, I may earn a commission. This comes at no additional cost to you.
The 15 Invaluable LAWS OF GROWTH
LAW 6: The Law of The Environment
Growth thrives in conducive surroundings…
What happens when you are rearing to grow and your environment is holding you back? I’ll tell you like this: It’s time for a change. This law points out that if you are constantly working on yourself in an environment that does not sustain you – growth will be slow and difficult.
However, if you change your environment and keep working on yourself, then growth becomes faster and more successful. But, how do you know if your environment is conducive to growth or not? What if you are in the right environment and it is you that needs changing?
Firstly, there are choices when there becomes a need for change. John Maxwell poses some questions for you to think about:
- Thoughts – what ideas lift me up?
- Hopes – what dreams inspire me?
- Friends – who encourages me?
- Home – what family members care for me?
- Recreation – what activities give me energy?
- Soul – what spiritual exercises strengthen me?
- Books – what have I read that changes me
When you have the answers to these questions, you are closer to identifying if your environment is nurturing to your growth or not. The things and people that sustain you are part of a thriving environment. Remember too, if you do happen to change your environment, you must also change yourself!
Look at it this way. Let’s say you change from an environment where people flatter you, to one where you get constructive criticisms. If you were previously bashful to constructive criticisms – you must now become open to it. Or else, you will not experience growth.
Signs of a good environment:
- Others are ahead of you – yes! This means there is a model for more growth.
- You are constantly challenged.
- Your focus is always forward.
- The atmosphere is affirming.
- You are often out of your comfort zone.
- You wake up excited.
- Failure is not the enemy. You are not bashed for failing.
- Others around you are growing.
- People around you desire change.
- Growth is modeled and expected.
Are these ten pointers a reflection of your environment? Your environment should be lifting you up, not holding you back.
LAW 7: The Law of Design
To maximize growth, develop strategies…
Imagine a teacher who does not save her lesson plans. Each year, instead of tweaking the content for delivery, she would have to be re-writing plans. There is no strategy in that – and certainly no growth. For systems to be effective, they should be simple, reproducible, scalable and teachable.
Similarly, your own growth requires a system and strategies. Having this, allows for you to assess if there is progress. Assess the different areas in your life – career, faith, family, health, hobby, marriage, personal growth, free time. What systems have you developed for each? If you haven’t got these systems in place, find strategies to do so now. If you do, go ahead and refine them.
LAW 8: The Law of Pain
Good management of bad experiences, leads to great growth…
A part of growth is learning from experiences. Whether yours or those of others. Often time, persons shrink and loose their zeal to grow, when faced with bad experiences.
It is during that time, that you are introduced to a part of you – you never knew before. A bad experience may teach you that you need to be more patient. Maybe you didn’t realize until then, that you are not a patient person. Subsequently, you may start working on your patience. That in turn expands your growing potential.
Everyone encounters growing pains. However, not every one grows from them. John Maxwell outlines different type of pains in what he calls the Pain File! Yes! A file of pains. Certainly you must be able to identify pains you have encountered. Take a look.
Pain File:
- The pain of inexperience: “I have never been through that.”
- The pain of incompetence: “I should have seen that coming.”
- The pain of disappointment: “I wish it had never happened.”
- The pain of conflict: “Human encounter doesn’t always feel good.”
- The pain of change: “I didn’t want that to happen.”
- The pain of bad health: “I lost what I thought I would always have.”
- The pain of hard decisions: “You can’t make everyone happy.”
- The pain of financial loss: “If I could only get that back.”
- The pain of not being number one: “I deserved to be there.”
- The pain of travelling: “When I am away, I feel…”
- The pain of responsibility: “They expect so much from me.”
Nonetheless, you can turn your pain into gain!
Begin with finding and living by a POSITIVE LIFE STANCE. This enables you to find a way no matter the pain. Positive life stances allows you to find lessons from bad experiences and grow from them.
Next, you will want to embrace and develop your creativity. Creativity usually helps you find ways to overcome growing pains. Get creative and find a legitimate way out.
Then, embrace the value and lessons from your bad experiences. The thing with bad experiences is that not everyone learns from them. The ones who do, are better able to turn their pains into gains.
Ultimately, you should make good changes after learning from bad experiences. That way, you take responsibility for your life!
LAW 9: The Law of the Ladder
Character growth determines the height of you personal growth…
Simply put, character matters. Hence, focusing on being better on the inside is better than the show on the outside. After all, it is the inside that influences the outside.
Have you ever heard these phrases?
- To be a success, think like a success.
- Practice what you preach.
- Borrowed beliefs are not owned beliefs.
They are character building phrases. When your character is aligned with your actions and your actions with your character – growth happens. Having a teachable character also provides room for growth. See, it is of little use having big ambitions with no guidance. Or having big ambitions with a character opposed to learning and humility. You won’t get very far on your growth ladder.
The stronger your character, the greater your growth potential.
LAW 10: The Law of the Rubber Band
Growth stops when you loose the tension between where you are and where you could be…
*Drum roll please*
I mentioned in part one of my review of the 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, that I would tell you which is my favourite law and why.
Well, obviously with the drum roll… the Law of the Rubber Band is my favourite!
Of a fact, rubber bands are pretty much useless if they are not stretched. Whether you use it to hold a file in place or to keep your paper money in place temporarily – it has to be stretched. That is where it’s value is.
Similarly, as rooters for growth, we too encounter stretches on our growth journey. The moment you loose the momentum to stretch, you begin to loose the potential of where you could be. In this case, stretching then, is the opposite of settling. Which do you prefer, to stretch or to settle?
Justifiably, I love the law of the rubber band because it captures a wholesome picture of growth. Be it personally or professionally. It is through stretching that Rooting For Growth was born -on my birthday! I decided it was time to stretch from my occasional writings, to a more committed and far reaching system.
I knew it would take a lot of stretching. But I was ready to get others like myself – rooting for growth!
Want to know more on how Rooting For Growth was born – on my birthday? Then, be sure to read To be Goal wise and Growth foolish.
Also, you are so close to completing my review of The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth! Don’t stop now. See part 3 for the next 5 laws that wrap up the review.
Go to part 1.
Go to part 3.
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