Commitment to Growth

Looking up at a beautiful green palm tree with sky in background.

2026-07-24

This time is asking me to grow in a big way. How will I do it?

Growth and Openings

Openings are all about growth and opportunity. They are catalysts, if we recognize and enter them. They usually fit our journey well and help us take the next step forward. We do not control Openings. Perhaps we wish for them. However, they show up on their own. Growth and Openings are inextricably linked.

Key to growth and Openings is our choice whether to enter them when they appear. Sometimes, they are most welcome. Sometimes, they challenge us. Sometimes circumstances force them upon us. Sometimes, we do not feel ready to deal with them. Other times, they are the last thing we want to see. Whenever they appear, we are faced with a choice that we ignore at our peril.

We do not have to say yes to an Opening. Growth can result from saying no. Growth occurs in the act of choosing whether to enter an Opening. A lot goes into that – assessing where our lives are now, whether we have what we think we need to enter and what direction the Opening may take us in. The act of choosing is significant in itself.

Mindset

What is the mindset that allows us to grow? A growth mindset believes that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning and persistence. Challenges and failures are viewed as opportunities for growth and improvement. Perseverance, resilience and continuous learning are honored. Growth is valued as an essential part of life.

A growth mindset can fundamentally transform how we live, experience challenges and achieve our goals. It is a perspective shift from viewing challenges as threats to viewing them as opportunities for growth. A growth mindset frames our concept of life as active, dynamic and challenging, leading to growth and ultimately, a happy and fulfilling life.

We can build a growth mindset by creating a context for our life’s journey such as we are here to learn, growth keeps life interesting or a stagnant life does not serve us. Obstacles to a growth mindset include: perfectionism – that failures or mistakes are proof of insufficiency, allowing fear to stop us from taking risks or allowing ourselves to fail or doubting our abilities to face challenge and grow.

Do you practice a growth mindset? It is easy to make the shift in perspective. Let coaching help you!

Maintaining Commitment

Commitments, to ourselves and others, matter. They are promises that we keep. Commitment to growth means that we will honor our own development and learning. We will pursue it and endure. Through it we will improve ourselves, face challenges successfully and see ourselves change for the better. Our lives will have purpose and be models for others.

Maintaining commitments can be challenging. Here are some suggestions on maintaining commitments:

Set realistic and achievable goals. It is fine to stretch ourselves, but unrealistic and overambitious goals lead to frustration and overwhelm. We must consider our abilities, resources and the time available.
Have a plan or a way to monitor our progress.
In coaching we recommend “chunking it down” when it comes to larger goals – breaking our commitment into small steps achievable one-by-one.
Make commitments a priority.
Maintain flexibility as circumstances change without losing sight of goals.
Develop resilience and persistence. Get the support needed to keep going.
Hold ourselves accountable for maintaining and fulfilling our commitments.

Flow

Although making a commitment to growth can, at first, seem arduous and challenging, it can lead to flow. Amid the ups and downs of growth, as we maintain our perspectives and our centers, we enter a “zone” that allows us to move smoothly through Openings and reap their rewards.

I see now that commitment and mindset are key to growth. I will move forward with both.

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