#6 Hidden Growth

Sometimes it feels like you have hit a brick wall. Everything feels like it’s standing still and that you aren’t really going anywhere. I have felt like that more than a few times, myself. I get antsy when it feels like nothing new is happening, like no new results are being produced. It feels like the end of the world and I hate it. 

But sometimes there is growth that we aren’t seeing. Sure, we might not be up to the next big thing, or even training for it (at least, it seems,) but does that truly mean that we aren’t moving forward? Are we truly plateauing as much as we thought, or is there something else going on just below the surface? 

I think we often neglect the progress we have made and the things we have adapted to. It’s alright, it’s easy to do. But when we need a little boost after the excitement of doing something new wears off, we should turn to gratitude. We should remind ourselves of how far we have come and how exciting that is. 

But the other thing we have to always remember is that there is so much more to growth than doing new stuff. Sure, that’s the fun part, but if you are just chasing the new stuff all the time, you will miss out on what makes you worth your salt: quality. Anyone can do something a couple of times and be excited that they aren’t royally botching their work, but the mark of a true master is in his ability to do it with absolute perfection day after day. You should learn to completely master stuff before you try something new. That will make you stand out as a worker.

Not only does that make you really good at specific stuff, but it makes you understand what quality really is. You might never know until you start completely mastering everything you do. And, over time, it will make you better at everything else because skills overlap. Learning how to have an eye for trash on the ground will not only make you a great janitor, but also a great manager. Skills like that stack and you will be able to use them all later. You just might use them in different ways. 

But the tricky thing is that while we are growing quietly in the background, it feels like we are slowly withering away. The motivation starts to fade and before you know it, we are too sick and tired of the same dang crap to get up and do it again. What do you do then? Well, it’s in those moments that you learn something about yourself. You learn why you are really committed to what you are doing. You have to remember why you jumped into this fire in the first place. That reason will be your anchor, your grounding point as you hold on for better days. 

Here’s my example. I don’t always love my job. It isn’t always thrilling measuring and cutting stick after stick of pipe. I do love getting some repetition in, but the demand definitely gets to me. But when I think about giving up, I am reminded of how much security I have here. Not just in this particular job, but in this field. If I lost this job today, I could have a new one yesterday, it’s so good. That brings me a peaceful satisfaction. It doesn’t bring me excitement every single day, but it gives me a peace of mind that I can’t find in other fields. Of that, I am certain. 

So remind yourself of your why, and evaluate it. It may even be time to strengthen it. Add to that bonfire and never lose hope of getting to bigger and better places. I pray that purpose finds you this day and that it gives you the power to push through the darkness that surrounds you.

Until Next Time

May Peace be your Guide.