Your rate of growth
We are all faced with challenges day in and day out. And we often think of them as unpleasant interruptions of our comfortable routine and wish they’d go away. But what if we change our negative connotation of a challenge into something that actually serves us. Something that makes us grow and become more well-rounded and broadly equipped human beings?
Lately, I stumbled upon a talk by Pascal Finette in which he presented a slide with a saying from the Manual Fieldbook of the Navy Seals.
It says:
Your rate of growth equals the magnitude of the challenge, multiplied by the intensity of the attack.
That idea struck me and changed my view of the daily challenges I face. All of a sudden, something unpleasant and probably uncomfortable becomes a decisive goal worth pursuing. In the rearview, it is usually easy to see the growth that occurred after conquering a challenge. But how powerful can it be to unleash that positive, forward-directed energy when faced with a problem.
Screenshot from “Unreasonable Group — Mentor Session Pascal Finette”
In my understanding, that doesn’t mean everyone should go out every day and tackle dramatically unrealistic challenges and wait for growth to come. (Well, for some people, that approach might be suitable if it fits their personality…), but what the saying should really accelerate is to change your perception of a challenge and see it as a fun way to grow personally.
I genuinely believe that the change of one’s perception of a circumstance is one of the most powerful tools we have as humans.
Takeaways:
1. When faced with a challenge, think about the equation, the magnitude, and the intensity. Instead of wearing yourself down, you might convince your mind that it will bring you further up on your path to personal growth.
2. During your day, go actively and intentionally after little challenges that might scare you and therefore increase your rate of growth. That can be talking to a stranger, volunteer to give a presentation, share your opinion in a meeting, you name it.
Sum:
Abraham Maslow, the famous American psychologist, heavily promoted this exact idea throughout his life. He once said that “life is an ongoing process of choosing between safety (out of fear and need for defense) and risk (for the sake of progress and growth). Make the growth choice a dozen times a day.”
There is no need to join the Navy Seals tomorrow. But it pays off to see challenges in your daily life (big and small) as something good and as an opportunity to grow day by day.
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