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Are
You Like a Cement Truck or Concrete?
—The
Value of Personal Growth
By
Doug
Kelley, CH, CSL • May 2001
"We
must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we
harden."
—Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)
When
it comes to personal growth, some people are
like a cement truck; others are like concrete. What's the difference? Take a
cement truck for example. Its barrel keeps turning so the "gray
matter" (cement) doesn't set up and harden. But more is necessary. Every
now and then, some fresh and new material (water) is added to keep the cement
soft and usable.
People
who are like a cement truck view personal growth as imperative. They
continually take in new material and add it to the "gray matter"
(their mind) to keep it rejuvenated. Similar to a cement mixer, by cogitating
on new and fresh ideas, the mind is kept fresh, rejuvenated, and usable.
Conversely,
other people are like concrete. Zig Ziglar aptly described the concrete-type
person as somebody "who is all mixed up and permanently set." They
rarely take in and meditate on new and fresh concepts that would allow them to
grow as human beings.
Have
you ever noticed how the very people who need to read self-growth books, are
the very ones who never do? I have especially noticed this since I wrote The
Game Rules for Life, in
2000. Often, I see someone who could really benefit from some advice it
contains, but many times when I ask if they ever read personal growth books,
they say no. So I take them at their word, and usually leave it at that
because I know they are not ready to look inside themselves for answers and
solutions to a better life.
Without
regularly pondering new ideas, our gray matter—or minds—can harden. But
this is not the only danger. A person who does not view life and its
difficulties in the light of new ideas and concepts might also find that who
they are within—their spirit and their heart—can set up and harden. Over
time, cracks form, and just as a weed grows up through a crack in concrete, so
too the weeds of bitterness and hard-heartedness can grow. The result can be
one taking more out of life than one gives.
But
all is not lost. By regularly taking in fresh ideas through personal growth, a
person's gray matter will start to soften and become more usable. With use,
the mind is a powerful tool; without use, a great hindrance.
Another
advantage to reading personal growth material is that it opens the mind to yet
other new ideas and concepts. This in turn allows the mind to be receptive to
new ways of doing things that can potentially make life easier and better. An
open mind allows higher values to take root and grow, such as empathy and
tolerance for the human condition. Zig Ziglar also has a comment regarding an
open mind. He said, "A mind is like a parachute—it is only useful when
it is open."
At
times, I have also observed people who seem to be interested in personal
growth, but are very narrow in the subject matter that they allow in. Strict
belief systems—including strict religious beliefs—can actually stymie a
person's growth because the world is viewed through a very narrow lens. Those
with an attitude of, "Everybody is entitled to my opinion," cheat
themselves, as well as humanity, because they don't become all that they can,
and in turn, give back to humanity.
On
the other hand, those who are serious and open-minded about personal growth
are like a beautiful and budding flower. Not only do they see and know of
their own inner beauty, but they are also a beautiful sight for the world to
behold!
I
realize that by writing this commentary, I am "preaching to the
choir," as it were. I realize that you, who are reading this, don't need
it the most (but you still do need it). Those that need it the
most are the ones who, unfortunately, will never read it. But we can only hope
that, one-by-one, more people will begin to see the value of growing within.
For
those of you who do see the value of self-discovery and personal growth, I
warmly commend you! I urge you to keep up the good work of growing
within—even if, at times, you think it doesn't make much difference. Keep
working on and refining yourself, and then little by little, you will become
better and better until one day, you will blossom into a beautiful flower with
Greatness to Deliver.
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