Spiral of Continual Growth and Learning

Looking at it in the larger view enables us to not only put our whole lives in perspective but helps us be aware that there is a future, to create a vision for our future and to choose to work towards that future.

Here's what the sequence looks like when the path of growth is chosen.

1.Comfort Zones Life seems to be moving well, we're comfortable with career, relationships, etc. This is a good time to get comfortable and set in our ways!

Following the Entrepreneurial Way, you want to use this time of comfort to plan, to train and to network and whatever else you need to give you a sense that you are ready. It is a little like gathering your stores in late summer so that when the winter comes, you have something to see you through.

2.Momentous Events A crisis occurs. Either through choice or imposition, everything starts to change. This event can happen as a result of a sickness, death, divorce, job loss, retirement, birthdays, moving out of the house, graduation, etc.

Think back to your own life when a crisis occurred. It is that moment when from that time on, nothing is the same. We don't always realize it at the time, but when we look back, we know it to be true.

3.Oblivion We protect or insulate ourselves from pain by emotional withdrawal, numbness, confusion and/or immobilization. We don't know where to turn. We know that we have to let go of the past¦it is over, but on another level, clinging to some kind of security, we hang on.

Transition occurs when you decide to let go and to mobilize yourself to move into the future. The past is part of your life, but you walk out of it into the challenges of tomorrow. It's not easy but it is the path of transition it is the path of growth that works.

4. Exploring New Horizons The next stage allows us to explore new solutions in out lives. This can take many forms: reading a book, discussions with friends or counselors, entering a program, etc. Make no mistake, it's not clear sailing we are up and down in this stage. One moment things seem clear and another moment we are back to confusion and perhaps oblivion.

This is where the plans you have in place can kick in to help you through the difficult time. It will give you comfort, knowing you have some things in place to support your efforts.

5. Seizing the Moment In this stage you may feel drained but you begin to say: I've got to decide. There may be questions like: for example Is this right for me? Should I take the risk? You take the risk and make the choices!

This is one of the places where chance and preparedness can come together many people like to call it luck. In truth it is being ready when opportunity knocks.

If you aren't growing you are stagnating

This is what stagnation looks like: Letting my actions and movements be dictated by external circumstances. Blaming others, the company for my personal fate, as if I have no personal responsibility in my own life, saying I have no choices and denying the inevitable is going to happen and particularly that it won't happen to me

Ask yourself: Where in my life am I following a path that stagnate my growth?

What am I willing to do about that?

We can often understand and see this path more clearly in other people's lives than our own. You will find that self-remembering how the Path of Growth has worked in your life in the past and self-observing what is happening right now in your life in the present could be more helpful. n