The "Where Are You Growing" Entry

Hello!

How are you doing? Did you have a good week?

How are you doing? Did you have a good week? I hope you did.

But even if it wasn’t the best, I hope you found moments to remain grateful in the chaos. Life can be unpredictable, but there’s always something worth appreciating.

This past week, I have been in the middle of what I like to call “big sister duties.”

Helping my younger siblings through their first days at university. All the running around and helping them sort out their documents reminded me of my first time in university.

The experience took me back to my own first day at university.

I remember how my parents did all the running around to help me.

But this time, it was my turn. I was the one sorting out the documents and making sure everything was in place while my parents relaxed.

It was a full-circle moment. Just like we talked about last week, it was time for them to reap the seeds they had sown, and I got to witness it firsthand.

Watching my little siblings of yesterday become university students is very emotional.

It feels like just yesterday when I was helping them with their colouring assignments and now here they are, all grown??

I always joke that they did not take permission from me to grow up so fast.

But I have learnt something from this: growth is inevitable.

It doesn’t wait for your permission, nor does it ask if you’re ready. It just happens. Whether you notice it or not, growth is always in motion, quietly shaping our lives.

But I have also learnt that not all growth is good.

Yes! There is in fact bad growth.

Let me break this down for you

You have probably heard that growth must be intentional.

If you want to get better at playing the violin, for example, you have to practice often. But what happens if you leave the violin untouched? Your skills start to deteriorate.

Time is moving. Your relationship with the violin is changing. But for the worse.

For instance, 4 years ago I decided to learn French. I attempted and was consistent for all of one month. Then I abandoned my pursuit.

By the time I started learning French again 2 years ago, it felt like I was starting from the very beginning. I was unintentional with learning the language but I was still growing, just in the opposite direction??

Instead of getting better, I somehow got worse. I forgot all the vocabulary I had learnt. All my tenses, gone with time.

The same thing happens with fitness. Anyone who has taken a break from the gym knows how painful it is to go back.

You try to lift weights you once used to and your body just betrays you??. You basically have to build up your endurance again.

This is because time does not take breaks when we do, it stays moving. In that time when you stop working out, you do not stay at the same level as you were, the growth starts declining.

This is a mistake we make all the time. Thinking that our growth pauses and waits for us. It does not. With every passing day you are growing. You just have to steer it in the right direction.

Your intentionality with getting better is what determines if your growth is good or bad.

It's interesting to think about. But it is like they say,

"Your indecision is also a decision."

Every day you wake up, you’re growing. Whether you are intentional or not is what determines the quality of that growth.

Are you getting better and gaining more knowledge? Or are you slowly slipping into decline and letting opportunities pass you by?

It is also amazing to know that growth is always happening. All you have to do is choose to steer that growth toward a better, stronger, version of yourself. But you have to be intentional.

It is like planting a garden. If you water the plants regularly, provide the right nutrients, and pull out the weeds, the garden will thrive. But if you neglect it, weeds will overtake the space, and the plants you planted will wither away.

The garden still grows, but not in the way you intended. Your personal growth works in much the same way.

Do not just be intentional, be also consistent with said intentionality.

Your intentional actions might be small, but when they are consistent, they build momentum.

Whether it’s learning a new language or developing a skill, showing up every day, even if only for a little bit, makes all the difference.

Let’s go back to the violin example. Imagine you practice for just 10 minutes a day. Over time, those minutes add up. You may not notice your improvement immediately, but one day, you’ll pick up that violin and realize you’ve grown into a better player without even realizing it.

Meanwhile, the opposite happens if you neglect the violin for months. You may not feel the decline at first, but over time, it will become painfully obvious. And by the time you notice, you’ll be much further away from your goal than you intended.

Growth isn’t something that happens once in a while. It’s a daily choice. It’s in the small, seemingly insignificant actions we take every day. It’s in the decision to practice, to learn and to show up even when it’s hard and you don’t feel like it.

If you want to grow in a positive direction, you have to put in the effort. You can’t expect progress if you are not willing to nurture it.

So, what are you doing today to ensure that your growth is taking you in the right direction? Are you being intentional with your time, your energy, and your focus? Or are you passive about it and letting time slip by, expecting things to magically improve?

Because, let me let you in on a secret: they won’t. Growth is happening, whether you’re paying attention or not. The only question is: are you growing toward your goals, or are you drifting away from them?

As we start this new week, take a moment to reflect on your growth. Be honest with yourself. Then, take action. Even a small step in the right direction is better than standing still. Remember, you are growing regardless, but you decide if that growth is positive.

Make your growth count.

BOOK I AM READING THIS WEEK: This week I am reading the elephant in the room by Robb Thompson

Have a lovely week!

See you next Sunday.

Your trusty growth partner,

Dee?