Ever wonder “Why the actual EFF should I keep doing all this personal growth?”
It gets tiring sometimes, right? Exhausting. It can seem endless. Peeling back layer after layer that needs to be healed can feel like a hamster wheel of torture.(To completely mix my metaphors.)
So why keep pursuing personal growth?
GREAT question. And I have an answer for you.
Some of us live with LOTS of obstacles in our way. Boulders and roots crowd our path, making it hard to walk. Every step is uphill. We have to raise our feet higher and higher each time we move just to climb over what’s in our way.
We might not even know where we’re headed.
The only promise is that there’s a “top of this rise” where we will be able to sit and rest, turn around, and see how far we’ve come.
I relate to this hugely since I’m a hiker. When we do fitness hikes or challenges, we PRIDE ourselves on surmounting trails like the one above.
Sometimes people with rocky trails in their inner world pride themselves on the difficulty. You can stop reading if that’s you. Because personal growth is ALL about doing the work to clear the path, not taking the hardest trail possible.
“Doing the work” makes our path easier
The result of our efforts is a lovely path: clearer, wider, and easier. It even gives us a greater awareness of what’s ahead and around us.
Clearing the path is not just for fun. Like those hiking trails, it’s definitely a workout all its own. And some parts of that can be fun. Like the “fun” you experience when you stop banging your head against the wall. Or the “fun” of not having period cramps anymore. Some of you can relate!
Personal growth is also not merely so we can sit down and admire the view.
Don’t get me wrong. You will feel better. There will be times of great relief. That is part of the point, to be sure. It’s just not the only reason.
Even though we are creating a lovely path, we don’t do it simply to have a lovely place to rest. Yet you will need (and you deserve) times of REST.
Why do the work of personal growth then?
You do the work in order to PROCEED to your purpose and mission in life.
Once the path is cleared, it’s not a matter of maybe. You WILL reach your purpose. You clear the obstacles so that you can easily move forward.
Think about it. With the boulders, roots, and obstacles GONE, movement is easier and swifter. Once that path is cleared, all you have to do is MOVE forward. One foot in front of the other. There’s more joy and peace too. You’re not exhausted, huffing over rocky terrain to make a little bit of progress.
And the MAJOR clearing is not ENDLESS. Once that work is done, keeping the way clear becomes easy maintenance. You pick up a few dead branches. You kick stones out of the way. Maybe rake it once or twice a year.
You don’t have to haul boulders away or hack out old roots. The HEAVY lifting is done.
Look, I know some people PREFER the hard way. OK. Your choice. That uphill, craggy trail through the dark woods might be your jam. Struggle as long as you like.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
For those of you doing the hard work of personal development, here’s your encouragement for those times you feel tired and start to ask “why am I doing this?” Just remember you’re doing it so you can proceed easily and joyfully. So that you can walk in your purpose and mission.
Life does not have to be hard. Personal development can be challenging. But it does not have to be arduous, endless work.
Having someone who knows how to guide, give effective resources, and encourage along the way makes all the difference. If you need support, I’m here. And if you have other resources, use them.
Here’s to YOUR continued healing and clearing. So that YOU can walk easily in your purpose and mission.
And if you don’t have a clear vision of your purpose and mission in life, well, I’d love to help with that too. It’s a regular thing that comes up for the wonderful women in SSS Life and for individuals too.
Apply to work one-to-one or join the group that fits your circumstances. READ HERE for a list of ways I work with people. And let’s get your path cleared so you can walk easily to that beautiful purpose.
