Change from Accidental to Intentional Growth

People tend to get into ruts in life. They get in an easy groove, and they don’t try to break out if it—even when it’s taking them in the wrong direction. After a while, they just get by. If they learn something, it’s because of a happy accident. Don’t let that happen to you! If that is the attitude you’ve developed, then you would do well to remember that the only difference between a rut and a grave is the length! How do you know if you’ve slipped into a rut? Take a look at the differences between accidental growth and intentional growth:

ACCIDENTAL GROWTH	INTENTIONAL GROWTH
Thinks Like a Victim	Thinks Like a Learner
Waits for Growth to Come	Takes Complete Responsibility to Grow
Learns Only from Mistakes	Often Learns Before Mistakes
Depends on Good Luck	Relies on Hard Work
Quits Early and Often	Perseveres Long and Hard
Falls into Bad Habits	Fights for Good Habits
Talks Big	Follows Through
Plays It Safe	Takes Risks
Relies on Talent	Relies on Character

In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. If you want to reach your potential and become the person you were created to be, you must do much more than just experience life and hope that you learn what you need along the way. You must go out of your way to seize growth opportunities as if your future depended on it. Why? Because it does. Growth doesn’t just happen—not for me, not for you, not for anybody. You have to go after it!