#8 Grow Beyond

When we talk about getting back up, I feel like there’s this assumption that we are basically trying to get back to where we were, only to dig our heels in and stay there. I mean, sure, there are careers, friends, and goals to get back to, but we act like we are just getting back, when we should act like we are back with a vengeance. We shouldn’t be looking to just return to where we were, we should be looking to get a step further. We aren’t just standing back up, we are leading a charge to take three more steps forward! In short, we should be looking to evolve, rather than just return.

But how do we do this? That seems like an easy thing to write, but another thing entirely to do. I think it all revolves around using the wisdom from your downtime to your advantage. All those thoughts and conversations about your “past life,” are yours to use as a guide. All those reflections during your time away, insights gleaned and lessons learned. They are yours to dig into and apply. If the conversations you had with yourself were honest, those insights will take you quite far indeed. 

And this wisdom will guide you through a lot of the effort that it will take to get back on your feet. It’s not to say that a lot of the legwork will suddenly be easy, but the experiences, along with the wisdom that comes with age, will be a map to getting there. You will know the steps, where you are in the process, and what it’ll take to overcome them.

The key is simply to have faith in your hindsight. I, personally, have had the thought that the things I once said were simply ramblings of a madman. I ask myself if those things that I said were really right or not. But what reason do I truly have to doubt myself? Why should I say that I was actually more wrong than right? What if I was actually onto something then, and that just need to have a little faith in the insights that I had found? 

But ultimately, we should be thinking about our entire approach. Yes, we will have to go through some of the same steps as before, but we should be thinking about what comes next, and how to truly get there. Maybe you need the wisdom of someone who has already done it. Maybe you simply need time to rethink how you do things so that you can do them better. Whatever the case, we should be looking at the next three steps to keep going, rather than just how to get back to our feet. 

And how often do we do this with life in general? Sometimes life gets hard, and it’s so tough that our only focus is making it through the day. But what if we looked a little further? I think it is often the case that having a big-picture mindset helps us to handle some of the small things. I know I would probably quit, even my new job, if I knew I was going to just do manual labor all day. Don’t get me wrong: I like being on my feet, working hard, and coming home to a good night’s sleep. But I’m sure my body would run out of steam long before I could retire from a job like that. No no, it’s the promise of a skill set that keeps me going. 

So cherish your wisdom! And if you don’t feel like you have any, go get some! Go find someone and get it from them! And if you can’t find someone to get it from, go find a way to hear someone’s stories. Between Youtube and the bookstore, you are sure to find the stories of someone who helps you out. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that will help you out. 

I pray that this post has given you some inspiration to find your way to greater heights. I pray that you learn not only to pick yourself back up, but to charge headlong down the path with resurrected passion. May you find the means to grow beyond who you were before, and that all you do propels you to greater heights than you have ever known before. 

Until next time

May Peace be your Guide.