The desire for self-improvement and growth can be a painful part of the human experience. Personal, professional, and spiritual, none of us transcends overnight. The path is littered with obstacles, from fear and complacency to self-sabotage. Overcoming these roadblocks requires climbing a steep hill, cultivating self-awareness, courage, and adopting a growth mindset. It’s progress over perfection.
In business, we stall growth by avoiding risk, maintaining the status quo, and failing to develop our true selves. As leaders, we have to identify critical crossroads, have the courage to make bold decisions, and commit to nurturing rather than showing the door to underperformers; often, the underperformer is us. I once had a company owner tell me he “only wanted A players,” and that he would fire anyone he decided didn’t fit the bill. At the time, I was consulting for him and didn’t want to lose the client. I thought I couldn’t afford to. Ultimately, their lack of ethics cost me, financially and, more importantly, in wasted time. I suffered from unhealthy comparisons, hating my insides based on what seemed to be the outsides of people around me. Internally, I was miserable. Sometimes I still am. By identifying our unique purposes and devoting time to what truly matters to us, we have a chance to see and take small steps toward our best selves. That’s my mantra.
Spiritually, dogmatism, egotism, and a reluctance to reflect honestly stop development in its tracks. Seeking teachers, shedding assumptions, and committing to daily mindful practices, we allow our inner selves to unfold. If we work at it consistently, fears about money, time, or support start to fall away. The journey towards self-actualization can be a lonely road.
While the path is never smooth, perseverance is everything. Trading flawlessness for gradual progress, sticking resolutely to the climb, and retaining kindness and curiosity ultimately help us move past what’s holding us back. Growing spiritual richness over time takes time; it’s a lifelong pursuit.
Easier said than done, isn’t it? While I’m writing about spiritual growth, I’m doing 5 things at once: bitching at my husband and harboring resentments toward people I haven’t seen in years. No Buddha here, not yet at least.
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