My Barriers to Growth
Growth is an evidence of life.
When I think about growth, I think about how there is “old” growth and “new” growth.
Old growth is like the trunk of a tree that continues to get bigger around with more bark every year but is a growth that is hardly noticeable except when it gets really old and is obviously a big tree; and that is really all that is said about it “that’s a big tree!”. Old growth was once “new” growth but has now become hardened with age and it’s glory has faded into the past. It now becomes the home of insects and parasites, another part of the food chain. “Old” growth has an important role to play in the “new” growth that the “new” growth is dependent upon. The “old” growth provides resources, protection and stability for new growth that is vulnerable. The “old” growth provides wisdom of how to weather the storms and challenges that the “new” growth will encounter.
New growth is where the fruit happens. In my garden, I look for the new growth, the evidence that the plant is healthy. I planted things for the new growth, for the flora, for the fruit. Where the old growth is sentimental to the heart the new growth brings joy to the heart.
Both are necessary for the fruit to set on, but some “old” growth trees support very little new growth and bear little fruit. My life is a combination of both “new” growth and “old” growth...
What keeps me from developing new growth?
Here are 10 things that can be barriers to my growth
1. New growth is costly -
growth requires time and resources
have to be willing to pay the price
2. new growth takes attention
have to think about new growth
new growth needs nurturing
the inclination is to focus on “old” growth that will not produce
3. New growth takes intentionality and planning
I have to make room for new growth
I have to anticipate the requirements of the growth
4. New growth takes work
I have to do something if I want to grow. New growth takes change
I have to do things differently
respond to a changing environment / culture
5. People around me can limit my growth
growing people help people grow
positive people help people grow
informed people help people grow
6. Loneliness limits growth
little grows in a vaccuum -
too inward focused
7. Information can keep me from growing
not knowing what to do leads to bad decisions
wrong information leads to wrong decisions
8. Perspective can keep me from growing
desiring stability and security over joy
desiring comfort and ease produces little fruit
9. Unrealistic expectations will hinder growth
expecting a forest to spring out of a desert - over night
discouragement is a growth killer
10. More fear than faith
fear of failing - loosing sight of future growth
not taking time to hear from God
unwilling to respond to God
When I think about growth, I think about how there is “old” growth and “new” growth.
Old growth is like the trunk of a tree that continues to get bigger around with more bark every year but is a growth that is hardly noticeable except when it gets really old and is obviously a big tree; and that is really all that is said about it “that’s a big tree!”. Old growth was once “new” growth but has now become hardened with age and it’s glory has faded into the past. It now becomes the home of insects and parasites, another part of the food chain. “Old” growth has an important role to play in the “new” growth that the “new” growth is dependent upon. The “old” growth provides resources, protection and stability for new growth that is vulnerable. The “old” growth provides wisdom of how to weather the storms and challenges that the “new” growth will encounter.
New growth is where the fruit happens. In my garden, I look for the new growth, the evidence that the plant is healthy. I planted things for the new growth, for the flora, for the fruit. Where the old growth is sentimental to the heart the new growth brings joy to the heart.
Both are necessary for the fruit to set on, but some “old” growth trees support very little new growth and bear little fruit. My life is a combination of both “new” growth and “old” growth...
What keeps me from developing new growth?
Here are 10 things that can be barriers to my growth
1. New growth is costly -
growth requires time and resources
have to be willing to pay the price
2. new growth takes attention
have to think about new growth
new growth needs nurturing
the inclination is to focus on “old” growth that will not produce
3. New growth takes intentionality and planning
I have to make room for new growth
I have to anticipate the requirements of the growth
4. New growth takes work
I have to do something if I want to grow. New growth takes change
I have to do things differently
respond to a changing environment / culture
5. People around me can limit my growth
growing people help people grow
positive people help people grow
informed people help people grow
6. Loneliness limits growth
little grows in a vaccuum -
too inward focused
7. Information can keep me from growing
not knowing what to do leads to bad decisions
wrong information leads to wrong decisions
8. Perspective can keep me from growing
desiring stability and security over joy
desiring comfort and ease produces little fruit
9. Unrealistic expectations will hinder growth
expecting a forest to spring out of a desert - over night
discouragement is a growth killer
10. More fear than faith
fear of failing - loosing sight of future growth
not taking time to hear from God
unwilling to respond to God
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