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Why Are You Not Growing?

Enjoying a tranquil morning with a good book and a stunning beach sunrise view.
Enjoying a tranquil morning with a good book and a stunning beach sunrise view.

It is a great time of year to think about what has held you back and what you lack. When we ask ourselves difficult questions, we can confront reality and find those opportunities to catapult us to the next level. It was not long ago in my career that I faced this reality, and on my drive home, a podcast provided the spark I needed to make some adjustments for this year.

Have you ever started to fill a bucket, a pool, or some vessel up with water only to realize it is taking longer than you had expected? As you examine more closely you know that a crack or hole has formed causing all the water that has gone in, to quickly come out. Is the water going into the vessel? Yes, beyond a doubt it has poured exactly where you wanted it to go, but it has failed to hold and stay in where it is needed.


What is the point of the story? If you are reading this you are the type of individual that likes to grow. You enjoy reading articles that challenge you to try harder or work better. I know, because I'm one of those people. Every commute I listen to either a podcast or book. Every morning I wake up and sit down to read my Bible before I start my day. But how much of this listening and reading is sticking? Is it possible to overflow the vessel and how can you get better?

My challenge for this year is going to be more intentional in my listening and reading activities. As I preached the other night I encouraged the congregation to desire God's law. This means before you get into reading your Bible ask God for something, and get your mind ready for what you are about to read, it will change the way you read. Well, that same premise comes to our reading and listening.


If you are reading a hardcopy book, build a plan to highlight/underline/dogear the book in a way that you can remember something. Then when you finish the book take some time to sit down and reflect on the book. What are your key takeaways? Is this a book you enjoyed or didn't? Goodreads is a great place to track your reading and make notes on any particular book, along with ratings. I read a book that was recommended to me the other day, a quick read that I listened to while I was doing some chores outside. At the end of the book I thought, wow that was good, but, as I sit here today I can barely remember a key takeaway from that book. What should I do? Probably grab a hard copy of the book and read it, mark it, and make notes on key points.


If you are listening to a podcast, make a quick note. If you are driving at least take a break to jot down a key point you learned from that podcast or a note that it was not for you. Make any of these growth focused podcasts grow you.


This does not have to be for everything, but it should be for anything you are reading to get better, learn, and grow. We should walk away from these activities with some actions and plans. Put some changes in place and then take some time to take care of a few fun tasks or listens so you do not start overflowing to the point where you cannot keep the water in the vessel.

If you are not a reader or listener, let me encourage you to start reading this year. Only 20% of Americans say they read regularly. Reading has been dropping over the past few years, with people taking up more time doom scrolling than reading. According to Mark Batterson on the podcast, we are spending about 2 hours a day scrolling, imagine what you can read if you change that 2 hours to just 1 or replace it entirely. Readers are leaders because they are constant learners, constantly growing. If you think you have learned everything when you are out of college then you are missing out. You will be amazed at what you can learn when you start actively reading!




 
 
 

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