Growth

This post is the first of a 4 part series exploring my calling’s essential ingredients. I usually start by asking open-ended questions to start my thought process.

This time is no different, so here we go:

How do in sync and out of sync look like?
What are some experiences relating to growth?
What does it look like day-to-day?
How do I evaluate where I stand?

While the above is a subset of what I outlined before, I can deduce the answer to the rest once I get these cleared up.

Let’s go.

Growth is understanding the world and improving my ability to navigate it.

Being in sync

When I am in sync, I spend time learning. This could be anything really: science, art, technology, skills, business, etc. As long as I dedicate the time and make progress. A couple of activities supporting this are:

attend a course
watch a talk
read a book
research a subject
watch a documentary
try something new (trial and error)
pay attention
truly engage

I feel well when I spend multiple hours “learning” every day. It isn’t so much about sitting down and tuning the world out to focus on taking in new information. Life’s a school, and studying happens as life flows.

Growth also happens by asking clarifying questions, paying attention to details. Really engaging with the topic, identifying cause and effect, linking this new information to knowledge from other fields. Connecting the dots, seeing behind the scenes, deducing, questioning, and thinking.

It is playing “what if” and asking why?

A recent memory

A few months ago I visited an aeropark with my family. A place with older airplanes and their parts on display. It was recreational time, yet I learned more in those few hours about airplanes than in my entire life. Starting with flight history to jet engines, flight control, airplane mechanics, etc. It was a truly wonderful experience, and I consider this growth.

Another couple of months ago, I had a chance to talk to some members of the Order of the Hungarian Royal Swordsmen. They dig up history and keep alive the spirit of swordsmanship. The order demonstrates how battles were fought 100s of years ago with swords, maces, lances, halberds, etc. I asked questions and learned about tactics, sword types, material, craftsmanship, skills, and history. Just like the airplane example, it was a great experience, all fueling growth.

Obviously, the above does not degrade the importance of focused learning. On the contrary, having a mind that soaks in information all the time will get “hyper-active” when it is focused on digesting new knowledge.

Day-to-day

Proper growth happens continuously. It is a way, not a destination; it is lifelong learning. How do I cultivate it?

I do so by being aware, mindful, experiencing the present, and actively seeking lessons hidden in plain sight. Engaging with people with different experiences and opinions. Genuinely understanding views contrary to my own. Actively working to make my “filter” of the world more transparent.

This reminds me of The Hidden School, also by Dan Millman. Life’s a school; it constantly teaches everyone, but not all listen to the wisdom. Knowledge is everywhere.

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
Tao Te Ching

Measurements

What follows is some thoughts on how to assess how well am I doing in this field.

I will add the following item to my daily journal wind down questions:

How did I grow today?

Answers may vary from insights I got that day, to the outcome of short thinking sessions, to actual concepts I just discovered. This primarily focuses on keeping my mind open every moment and ad-hoc research.

For focused learning, I will review every week what activities will fulfill this. Weekly planning shall include the following item:

Focused growth activities

This will list planned activities that include current books, courses, and classes I am planning on attending.

Growth is change

There is no tree without a lonely seed sparking to life for the sole purpose of growth. We are all seeds. The path of development isn’t easy; it requires tremendous change and adaptation.

Change is why we are here…

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”
Serenity prayer