Growth doesn’t occur in a linear way. We know that when we look at kids. They have noticeable growth spurts. Most plants don’t grow continuously, and certainly not at the same rate throughout their life. The same is true for us as leaders, professionals, and people. We go through seasons of growth. When we understand and identify that, we will ultimately grow closer and more predictably toward our potential.
In the physical world we think about Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Simply saying those four words gives us a complete mental framework about growth for plants. We can do something similar for the stages of human development – infant, toddler, school-aged, young adult, middle-aged, elderly. Seasons of human growth, however, are necessarily limiting and potentially predetermined.
There are two other issues with us relying on the stages of human development as our growth model:
- Length of the cycle. The human growth stages take 60+ years, as opposed to the annual cycle of the seasons.
- Repeatability of the cycle. The seasons model a repetitive cycle – after Winter predictably comes Spring. Human growth stages aren't cyclical - infant doesn’t follow elderly. While the human development model ends, the seasons always repeat.
Therefore, those serious about the ongoing growth and development of themselves and others must adopt the seasons of growth mindset.
Here are three ways you can adopt the seasons of growth model as your mindset and guide. Each will help you develop your skills, expertise, and wisdom in whatever areas you choose.
Plan for the Seasons
Gardeners do things in each season to prepare for the next one. Even if your thumb isn’t green and you have never planted anything, you know what planning for next season means. You think about your clothing, activities, and take the weather and seasons into account in your plans. We can do the same with our development. By noticing we are in a season of interpersonal Winter, we can begin preparing for the Spring with anticipation.
Expect the Seasons
In Spring, we expect the weather to gradually get warmer. We know it will happen. But often we act/think/wonder if the next season will ever come. After a Summer of running hard mentally, emotionally, and physically, we can expect and value Autumn where things might slow down a bit more. If it seems like forever since we made any progress (Winter), we think progress and growth (Spring) will never come. We can expect the seasons of growth will come and we will be more effective.
Live in the Seasons
Ask ten people to pick their favorite season, and I bet each season gets named at least once. Yet, there is power, beauty, and much to like about each. Talk to those ten people long enough and all will find things they like about each of the seasons. If the grass could choose to grow during Winter, it wouldn’t be as successful or hardy as in the Summer, when it is designed for rapid growth. If the maple tree didn’t let go of it’s leaves in Autumn, it wouldn’t grow next Spring. We are most effective with the seasons of growth mindset we are present and grateful where we are. We can plan knowing the seasons will change, but valuing what each season brings makes us more content and successful.
Lessons from the Seasons
Here are some other lessons from the seasons for growth mindset I have learned:
- Patience. You can’t rush the next season. But you can, when you realize the rhythm, be expectant and look for the changes in the seasons. This has taught me patience when I haven’t felt I was growing at a given time.
- Awareness. The seasons of growth model shows us the value of each stage of development. Winter, for example, is necessary and still a period of growth, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
- Pace. When we see the power of the seasons, we realize that we can’t run 100% forever. Being unrealistic about this causes stress, anxiety, and worry. Our internal Autumn and Winter seasons allow us to outwardly grow faster in Spring and Summer. Even if our seasons aren't three months long. Pacing ourselves and our expectations puts our overall growth in a fresh and valuable perspective.
We all see the seasons of the year as the natural rhythm of life. Adopting a seasons of growth approach to our personal and professional development will help us grow faster. Find the rhythm to develop without rushing, pushing, or getting in your own way.
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