For most of my life, I worked hard to grow and become the person I thought I needed to be, the person I thought would bring a better life. But the life I dreamed of, came when I stopped trying so hard and allowed the natural effortless growth to come through me. Much the same way an acorn inevitably finds itself as a majestic oak tree.
For much of my life, I presumed, that learning and growth came from outside of us. It was something that was directed by other people in our lives. People like our parents, families, friends, teachers, and eventually bosses or co-workers.
I believed that other people knew what I needed to do and slowly lost trust in myself to know what I wanted, or which direction to go. I innocently looked to others to guide me, while ignoring my inner GPS and curiosity.
How Effortless Growth Happened for Me
However, over the past 2.5 years, something has dramatically shifted in me. As I ventured into the world of the 3 principles, described by the enlightened scottish welder, Sydney Banks, I began to see and experience life in a surprisingly different way.
I’ve experienced more personal growth in the last 12 months, than maybe my entire adult life (I’m 41, as I’m writing this). And the only “effort” I’ve put forth, is to continue to look inside and have regular coaching conversations about the nature of life.
And look around if you haven’t lately. It’s currently fall here, and the colors of the maple trees are turning bright orange, red, and yellow. The sun has moved lower in the horizon. The mornings have become colder, and the humidity has dropped.
All of these things simply happened, because change is inevitable. It is the natural occurrence of life.
Just like watching a child go from rolling, to crawling, to walking, and to running. This the most obvious example of natural growth in humanity, since there is literally no one telling these children how to do it. They just do, like it’s the clear next step on their path in life.
How we STOP Effortless Growth
Unfortunately, we are innocently stopping the natural, effortless growth that is our birthright. We think we know how life should unfold, what we should be doing by a certain age, how much money we should (or shouldn’t, for that matter), be making.
We believe that in order to grow, we need structure, systems, organization, meaning, goals, and a “why”. And when we have a strict idea or concept of how to grow and change, we ultimately limit the actual possibility of real change.
When we give ourselves only one way to do something, all the other possibilities fall away.
What You Can do for Effortless Growth
Effortless growth doesn’t mean, sitting and doing nothing until life happens for you. Effortless doesn’t mean actionless. It does call for limiting or avoiding meaningless effort, so you can save your energy for the things that light you up!
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Howard Thurman
This is truly going to be different and unique for each one of us. And only YOU know what you enjoy doing.
But if you want a few steps to take, please consider any of the following:
- When you notice a curiosity about something, follow that curiosity and see where it takes you.
- Learn about your relationship with your thoughts and begin to give the ones that suck, less credence, power, and time in your head.
- Take the next step in your journey of life and see where it takes you. Limit your time contemplating or worrying about how this step is going to change your life, and just go do it.
- Get a transformational mindset coach ;)