| "Never wish life were easier, wish that you were | | | | All that information is stored just below the |
| better." - Jim Rohn | | | | conscious and just waiting to be brought up to |
| The self-improvement and growth quest is an | | | | the surface to be used and exploited. The ideal |
| active process and not a passive one. That's true | | | | way to turn that vast amount of knowledge into |
| in nature and it's also true in human nature. | | | | practical information is by subjecting ourselves to |
| Growth implies a struggle to break free from | | | | new situations and unfamiliar conditions. |
| existing conditions and expand in importance and | | | | When facing a new type of challenge, the brain |
| influence in our world. | | | | has to go into problem-solving mode. It has to |
| It is also true that to be truly effective and | | | | become creative and imaginative. It has to draw |
| meaningful, growth has to be done against | | | | upon previously used solutions and create a new |
| resistance. The stronger trees grew fighting | | | | version that will be applicable to a novel situation. |
| challenging elements and the sea corals are | | | | When this new process has been created, |
| always more robust where it has to fight the | | | | another tool becomes automatically available. |
| tides and the currents. | | | | It is through this process of problem solving that |
| Exponential personal growth is the result of the | | | | we become better equipped to face more |
| struggles that are self-imposed. It is by voluntary | | | | complex situations, become more versatile, more |
| exposing ourselves to challenges that are | | | | effective and ultimately achieve self-improvement |
| somewhat beyond our means that we grow the | | | | and self-growth. |
| fastest. Nietzsche's words say it brilliantly in the | | | | We cannot learn how to swim by reading about it |
| following quote, "What does not destroy me, | | | | or by observing other swimmers. We cannot |
| makes me stronger." | | | | learn how to ride a bicycle unless we get on one |
| Rapid growth is done outside of the comfort zone | | | | and learn through trials and errors and we cannot |
| and into what could be called the uncharted lands. | | | | learn how to be a success in any endeavor unless |
| So long as we remain in familiar surroundings, the | | | | we roll up our sleeves and get into the action. |
| same personal resources are being used over and | | | | It is by taking action that we learn, improve and |
| over again. It is only when we find ourselves in | | | | grow. It is by making mistakes and learning from |
| terra incognita that we have to reach down, solicit | | | | our mistakes that we improve. It is by taking the |
| and bring to the surface those resources that we | | | | chance to look foolish that we get to look good. |
| don't even know that we have. | | | | It is by failing that we learn to win. |
| We posses vast stores of resources that we | | | | Self-improvement is accomplished by flexing our |
| don't even suspect that we have. It may sound | | | | intellectual muscles. It is done by challenging |
| unbelievable but every experience that we ever | | | | uncharted roads, by going where we've never |
| had is stored somewhere in our brain. That | | | | been before. We grow by climbing mountains and |
| represent more information and references than | | | | slaying dragons... not by watching the parade go |
| could be stored in hundreds of books. | | | | by. |