From Seed to Seedling

Nature is a great teacher. When you pay attention, you will see plants growing in unexpected places and unexpected ways. We can grow too. 

Aristotle in The Nicomachean Ethics noted that “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” Our last few blogs have focused on courage because courage is a muscle that gets stronger with practice. And when our courage grows, we can accomplish things that are important to us. 

I can still remember my first piano recital – sitting in front of the piano with people staring at me. I was terrified. I began the first three notes of the Mexican Hat Dance … once, twice, three times … and continued trying until the rest of the song appeared. Everyone, including me, felt victorious when I finally finished that piece. We all had been holding our breath. Our lives are filled with these moments when we stop and think about it. 

While we might wish for a magic wand to make what we want easy, it often requires work on our part. The only way I know to grow in the areas I care about is to practice … practice stepping out of my comfort zone, practice improving my skills, practice achieving the right mindset, practice asking for help … I have a lot of growing still to do. The outcomes I envision, however, make it all worthwhile. 

Take a tip from the pro-golfer, Gary Player. “The more I practice, the luckier I get.”  

This Week: Pick one thing outside of your comfort zone that you care about and want to act on. Picture the outcome. What does it feel like? Now, take a step back and think about what skills and/or mindset you need to accomplish your vision. Where do you need to apply practice to get ready for the next step? Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Take one step at a time.