julie's Path of Growth

Lifelong learning and growth is not a choice you make once as your lifestyle and then just leave as it is. It’s something you must keep reinforcing through little everyday choices and decisions.

Chapter 2 of the book “Gesetze der Gewinner” by Bodo Schäfer dives into the concept of constant learning and growing as a life philosophy and gives easy steps and tips to incorporate it into your daily routine.

Schäfer writes that growth is something humans have in their genetic code. We don’t just grow aimlessly, we grow with purpose and direction. It’s called evolution.

“Wenn etwas aufhört zu wachsen und sich zu verändern, dann stirbt es.”

“When something stops to grow and to change, it dies.”

But if that’s the case, why do some people stop learning at a certain age, saying “I am too old for this”. Apparently, there are two big reasons.

One, people think they can’t improve any further. It’s a mindset of you learn as a child but once you are an adult you know it all. That’s not true, I think nobody knows it all or can do it all. We are not perfect. We ain’t no machines – we are human.

Number two, is indifference.

“Alles bringt uns unserem Ziel näher oder es entfernt uns davon. Es gibt kein ‘neutral’.”

“Everything in life either brings us closer to our goals or farther away. There is no in between, there is no neutral.”

If life is the sum of all our choices and decisions, then indifference can’t be an option. With it, you can’t decide and you won’t move forward. And not moving forward, is moving backward.

I never want to stop learning and growing and even when I am 92 years old, that’s what I’ll do. And if writing a blog post about it to keep me accountable is what I must do to remember that, then that’s good.

“Wenn wir aufhören zu wachsen und zu lernen, wird unser Leben sinnlos und schwer. Unerfüllte Bedürfnisse nehmen unsere Lebensfreude und rauben Energie”

“If we stop to grow and to learn, our life becomes meaningless and difficult. Unfulfilled needs take our soulfullness away and rob us our energy.”

Finally, what really matters is the environment I surround myself with. I can choose to be around people that lift me up, nurture or motivate me to strive for something greater. But if stiffened by a toxic and negative environment that clips your wings nobody you will achieve to grow.

Practice – what can I do? What are the baby steps?

• Read inspiring books.
  • One chapter a day is enough, it’s even great.
  • Take your time in the morning, before going to bed or in public transport. It’s up to you.

• Keep journals and document.
  
  • Erfolgsjournal: one for successes and accomplishments
  • Erkenntnisjournal: one for mistakes and the consequential enlightenment
  • Ideenjournal: one for ideas

• Make a list of people you want to get to know and learn from.

The last point doesn’t seem as easy to get started with as the other ones. But if you have any tips or ideas, I’m curious as to what you would do or can come up with. Leave a comment!😊💕