The Laws of Growth (DW#391)
In The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John Maxwell writes that the way to reach our full potential and live a life of purpose is to choose a path of intentional growth. In explaining the "Laws of Growth" he suggests that personal development and growth follow set principles and laws that can be discovered and applied for sustained personal growth.
This week, let us explore 5 of the 15 laws that Maxwell teaches us.
The law of consistency: How many times have we heard or read something inspirational, tried it for a few days and then forgot all about it? According to Maxwell, the key to turning these lessons and motivations into permanent change is his fifth law of growth, the law of consistency. Maxwell says that the key to this law is that motivation gets you going, but discipline, keeps you growing. Discipline turns motivation and inspiration into habits and our habits determine our growth.
I love the way Steven Pressfield puts it in his lovely book The War of Art: Professionals don’t wait for inspiration to strike. Instead, they bring it about on their own, by developing the habit of consistency… The consistency to continue cranking out whatever it is that they need to be cranking out—and to wake up the next day and, once again, give it all the grit they’ve got.
"Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying. Why is this so important? Because when we sit down day after day and keep grinding, something mysterious starts to happen. The process is set into motion by which, inevitably and infallibly, heaven comes to our aid. Unforeseen forces enlist in our cause; serendipity reinforces our purpose."
Pressfield quotes the famous author, Somerset Maugham, who was asked whether he maintained a daily writing schedule for his prose. His reply? "I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine sharp."
So if we have been waiting for inspiration and motivation to keep us on the path of change and growth, let us take a lesson from the pros and keep on going even after the inspiration has waned. Let us work consistently and diligently on things that matter regardless of how we may be feeling that day.
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