grow with ease

“Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.”

– J. Willard Marriott, entrepreneur and businessman

Image fro Flickr by Breezy Luik

Image fro Flickr by Breezy Luik

I go to the gym in the morning to help stay fit. It cleans out my mental and physical cobwebs and gets my day off to an energized start.

A key component of my fitness journey is to push myself in areas of strength, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility. When we push the limits a bit beyond our comfort, we come back the next day stronger and more capable.

The personal growth and development efforts that make the biggest difference are the ones which test and challenge our “timber.”

Exercise

Where in your personal and professional life can you lean into the wind and find yourself better off through the process?

 

The tests of life are not meant to break you, but to make you

“The tests of life are not meant to break you, but to make you.”

– Norman Vincent Peale

Image of a woman on a dock facing the ocean

Photo from Unsplash by Vlad Chernolyasov

When we engage in sports, we often test our strength, cardiovascular capabilities, and even our flexibility. When we do so, we grow and become fitter.

The way that the coaching process works is related to this: the idea of learning through experience. When we take on a challenge or pass a test, we become stronger and more capable.

Exercise:

What are the personal and professional obstacles and challenges that are facing you and asking you to be better, faster, stronger, smarter, and wiser?

What tests are you facing that will help “make” you?

Kites rise highest against the wind not with it

“Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.”

– Winston Churchill

Image of two kites in the air

Image from Unsplash by Bill Fairs

Life is stress. Life is adversity. Life has its challenges. Life has its potholes, its storms, even just its cloudy days.

As you take on these obstacles and challenges, how can you rise and find peace, smooth travels, and sunny days?

To find the grace and blessing life has to offer, we need to meet each day with our very best.

Exercise

What challenges, obstacles and barriers are you dealing with today? How will you rise to these challenges and let your life soar?