Get Out Of Your Way to GROW
We all face challenges in life, both personally and professionally. How we deal with these challenges determines our ultimate success and destiny. These setbacks should not keep us from achieving our goals. Instead they should be seen as opportunities to GROW through life experiences.
When I look back over my life and the obstacles that I faced, this is how I dealt with these opportunities to GROW:
G – Give yourself permission to change
Many of us are afraid of change. Whether we fear what others will think or that our change may not lead to better outcomes, we get stuck where we are safe. Change is natural and productive, so allow it to happen. Embrace it. Once I got over my fear of change, I was able to find fulfillment in the journey.
R – Reinvent yourself
How many times have you heard this phrase? Do we really know what this means? Whenever my life needed to go to the next level, I found myself reinventing my narrative.
When I began writing my book, Unconditional Forgiveness – Lessons on Letting Go to Build Better Relationships, my life coach said that I needed to embrace the new me. Instead of saying that I was in the process of writing a book, I began to say that I’m an author. This simple shift in how I saw myself and introduced myself to others made a significant difference in my dedication and motivation to complete the project.
O – Optimist outlook
I have always been a glass half full person and I believe this optimistic outlook on life has made a huge impact on how I approach life. Stuff happens, but through faith and hard work, I have seen the worst things in my life turn out to be the best things for me.
Failed relationships taught me how to be a better husband and father. A boss that told me I didn’t know anything about marketing propelled me into a successful career as a senior manager in marketing with Allstate responsible for $2 million budgets and negotiating deals with the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens. When you focus on the negative, you have limited your capacity to see what could be.
W – Work at it constantly
Growth doesn’t just happen overnight. You truly have to be dedicated to personal and professional growth. Our best athletes are great examples of the dedication needed to grow. These people put in the hours to perfect their skills. They balance their health and diet for peak performance. Also, the best athletes hire the best trainers in the offseason to work out the kinks, improve their timing and keep them motivated for the next season.
The same work ethic and commitment applies to successful professionals. Participating in leadership courses, training programs and getting advanced degrees helps you perfect your skills. Managing stress through exercise and diet, keeps you healthy and able to endure whatever comes your way. Also, investing in yourself to hire a counselor for you/your family, a business coach for yourself, consultant for your business will help you work out the kinks that are getting in the way of your growth.
My breakthrough moments all occurred when I got out of my own way and allowed myself to GROW naturally through life experiences. You can do the same and then you will find the journey of life much more enjoyable.
