Today’s blog post is inspired by a podcast I recently listened to that had some great stories and tips to use to continue to grow ourselves personally and professionally.
I’m reminded of a saying that my riding instructor Lillian (Momma Lil) Shively often quoted from Ray Kroc:
“As long as you're green you're growing, as soon as you're ripe, you start to rot.”
Gretchen Rubin, in her book “The Happiness Project” has research that reveals that “challenge and novelty are key elements to happiness. The brain is stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction.”
So, trying something new not only helps us grow, it also stimulates our brain and promotes happiness.
Here are three ideas to try out in your growth plan:
30 day metric – This idea is from Kathy Caprino’s podcast “Finding Brave.” Based on the last 30 days, would your spouse recommit to you based on how you showed up? Would your employer hire you based on the work that you did over the last 30 days? Would your kids want you as a parent based on the last 30 days and how you showed up? This is a really good litmus test as to how we are showing up every day to what matters. What can you do in the next 30 days to grow and show up better than you did in the last 30 days?
Great things happen in little steps. “What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while” (Gretchen Rubin). In the podcast, Antonio Neves talks about how so many people quit right as they are about to make a break through. He compares it to chopping down a tree. The first swing of the axe doesn’t do much; but every swing makes a little progress and if we stop before the final swing, just before we complete the project, we’ve put forth all this effort and then quit before the big break through. Persevere instead....and finish the final step....take the final swing.
A light walk in nature....opt out, not opt in. Another idea that Antonio Neves shared in the podcast is his practice of a “walking group”. He meets at seven in the morning with a network of friends. They pick a topic each week and share insights, ideas and challenges. The “light walk” is intentional and deliberate and different than meeting friends at the end of the day for a cocktail. The idea of “opt out vs opt in” is that they have this 7am meeting on their calendar each week and any one can opt out, but all assume they will be there. This “opt out” approach has helped them stay on track and committed to the network.
Especially in the pandemic, it’s easy to acquiesce to Groundhog Day, but that’s a choice.
You can choose to try something new.
What do you do to continue to grow?
Photo by Christian Bisbo Johnsen on Unsplash