Benjamin Franklin said, ”Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning.”
Everybody has a different perspective on growth. For some, it’s a financial growth, while for others it could be an intellectual or spiritual growth or growth in some other context. Whatever type of growth we are aiming for, we should keep learning and moving towards that goal. That’s the start of a growth mindset.
”Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as you were to live forever.” These words by Mahatma Gandhi truly highlight the importance of learning in our life. Remember, there is no age bar for learning. It’s only the zeal in you to learn and grow that matters.
In today’s fast-paced world our lives have become mechanical and robotic. We spend our days doing routine tasks and we don’t have time to learn new things. We wake up in the morning to the tick-tock of our alarm clock, skip our breakfast as we rush to office, drive hurriedly cursing the traffic, and finally reach office totally exhausted and tired. Did you notice how we started our day? Tired and Exhausted. The whole day we do the same routine work in the office and in the evening following the same route full of traffic to reach back home. Even after reaching home, we keep surfing TV channels or browsing on our mobiles. Then have dinner and sleep. And again, the next day is another similar day waiting for us. Did you realize what exactly we learned the entire day? Or did we actually spare time for ourselves – that ‘me time‘ that we all wish for. The answer is no!
We all have a lot of potential and we can achieve much more in our lives. But the question is: how do we do that? Well, by making slight changes in our lifestyle we can surely unleash our hidden potential and make our lives better.
One important habit needed for growth is to practice meditation. Every day we should meditate for some time and be with ourselves. We should focus on our breath and remain in the present. It is an excellent way to give a much-needed break to our mind chatter and release our tension. A healthy mind in a healthy body is key to success.
Do you know what is common among the most successful people on this planet? They read a lot. Develop a passion for reading books (new, old, fiction, non-fiction, drama, epic, drama, and more). Reading books is the best habit you can cultivate for your learning and growth. Reading helps us to de-stress, boosts our confidence, and motivates us to achieve new things. So, go to your nearest library or buy books from a shop or online, or borrow it from your friend. Pick and choose the books that fascinate you and start reading them. Remember, books are your best friends.
To keep growing in your life, having a positive perspective is a must. Look at your failures as a lesson and an opportunity to grow. While failure can feel like a negative thing, it actually gives you life lessons and some lifelong experiences, whether you got rejected in a job interview, you couldn’t deliver as per your manager’s expectations, or you couldn’t earn as much as your friend is earning. Missing the mark is not only a chance at a better shot, but it’s also an opportunity to grow and improve yourself. All you need is a positive outlook towards life. As Wade Boggs said, ”A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and sparks extraordinary results.”
The current situation will remain the same unless you change, learn, and grow through it. Practice meditation, develop a habit of reading, and keep a positive outlook towards people, things, and life. The result will be beyond your expectations and you will be a completely changed person (both inside and out).