If we live out of a false self, growth is equated to an increase in grandiosity, to winning the contest of life and accruing more money, power and prestige in a corrupt world.
If we live out of a true self, growth takes on a different meaning. Growth means an increase in consciousness and self-awareness, an increase in manifesting and refining our individual gifts.
So how do we grow for real? We can’t get up in the morning and force growth to happen, but we can invite growth into our lives by providing the conditions for growth to occur.
This invitation is analogous to cultivating a seed in a garden. As part of nature, we must be a viable seed, we must have enough life-force to grow, and we must plant ourselves in a growth inducing environment.
First, the seed of the true self is viable within all of us—that’s the good news. The bad news for some is that this seed is buried so deep due trauma experienced during childhood and later years that growth seems impossible, if even considered a choice.
Second, we have to want to grow. The gift of motivation is part of our temperament enhanced by the strength of our life-force. With a bold temperament and hardy personal-force, we will be motivated to do whatever it takes to grow.
Third, we must plant ourselves in an environment that offers us opportunities to grow. We must be willing to move away from family and friends that would stunt our growth and thwart the manifestation of our gifts. We must dare to enter a wilderness, far from the comforts of convention and find a place that values authenticity and our unique gifts.
Remember, as part of nature, we can’t help but grow. Nature’s intent is to evolve and we humans, as nature’s crowning jewel, are programmed to do just that—grow!