The Higher Purpose of Personal Growth
A Brief Meditation on Outcomes
In the humbling process of growing physically, mentally, and spiritually stronger we must reflect on the fact that we can pave a way for others to follow. Or maybe we can shine our own light so that others might find a way of their own. Your growth is personal, but it’s not just about you.
Let’s not forget that as we seek change through our own programmed discomfort there is true high-end suffering taking place all around us. There is chronic hunger from the mountains to the cities. Human slavery is still a real thing. There’s more, but you get the point. Don’t feel guilty that you are safe and fed; you are exactly where you’re supposed to be right now.
What we can do in the midst of such high-end suffering is pause and remind ourselves of the fragility of life and consider the small, incremental, improvements we can make for ourselves, our families, and our neighborhoods. Let’s remember that good things will happen in this world if you and those around you grab an oar and start rowing, even if it’s just in your own pond.
We should be grateful that we can find space in our lives to grow through deliberate suffering of our own creation and not the design of malign actors.
We can grow into living examples of good health, grace, courage, and justice. Sometimes it’s not easy; transformation is uncomfortable and takes a while. We’re going to screw it up sometimes and fail to practice what we preach. But the world desperately needs our best efforts, however small. Don’t quit.
