“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” – John C. Maxwell, American Author, Orator
God created us each differently. Even identical twins have different fingerprints!
And, the fact that we’re all different is completely okay. That means personal growth is only attractive to some people, not to everyone.
Some people, like me, actively pursue it.
Others resist it not only in themselves, but also in you.
Why?
It’s not because they’re vindictive or are holding a grudge. It’s because your growth affects more than just you… it affects them too. Your growth can create distance and separation in a relationship as you change while they stay the same. Not only is this common, but it’s also quite natural.
Too, your growth can force someone to stay aligned with you. This may lead to resentment.
Thus, when people grow, they either grow together or apart.
Ultimately, growth is movement. It’s action, upward momentum with purpose, direction and velocity. That’s confounding because we all grow in different directions, at different speeds, at different times.
In the end, growth causes some relationships to stay in sync, get in sync, or get thrown out of sync. The challenge is to be ok with any of these 3 results, and not let it dissuade you on your own path to personal growth.
On your journey, growth will deepen some connections…and create distance in others.
The key is, grow. As a leader, a friend, a mentor, a parent, a spouse…get better, grow, mature, become wiser. As Mr. Maxwell articulates, change is inevitable. Growth, however, is optional.
My encouragement to you, dear reader, is to pursue growth with purpose. Don’t stay the same version of yourself, get after it. Be better. Do hard things. Read, exercise, eat right, go to church, learn something new, always strive to be a better version of yourself today than you were yesterday.
And live on purpose today.
