I’ve been thinking lately about what a growth mindset looks like and my own personal commitment to growth. As I examine my life I went looking for the moment that switch happened for me. It happened when I became a mom! It was a life change that went so far outside my world that it compelled me to learn beyond my experience. This example shows that a commitment to learning doesn’t always involve formal education.

The current journal that I am writing in has the word “Growth” stamped on it. I knew I had to have it when I saw it. Since last year I’ve filled the pages with numerous experiences that have provoked me to think outside my current mindset. Becoming an abuela is at the top of that list, along with new relationships, difficult relationships, becoming part of the Care Pastor team at our local church, traveling to Nicaragua, and pushing my physical limits to serve others. Phew…and that’s not even all of it. Like a bird encased in an eggshell, it’s time again to poke holes, let more light in and break free to use new wings. 

Recently, I was in a room of people different from my usual circle of influence. The teacher was explaining concepts I’ve never heard of and wasn’t even sure I could grasp. It felt like God wooed me to the doorway of another world and before I knew it I was on the other side of the door. If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation it might rattle your brain momentarily. You might turn to old thought patterns, hoping it would scribble an excuse letter for you. This internal conversation might sound like:

“What am I doing here?”

“I don’t belong here.”

“What is the point of this?”

“I don’t think this is for people like me.”

Each of these statements taunts our soul like a bully and reeks of fear. I’m understanding on a new level why God emphasized to His people over and over, “Do not fear.” God is the loving Father that is cheering us on to jump…jump into love, jump into that new opportunity, or jump into that new city. Paralyzed, we refuse. Oh, but He’s so patient. Friends, it’s time to create new pathways in our brains. Not because a new year is around the corner! And we don’t have to pull them out of thin air! The Bible is full of ideas that are ancient, solid and yet new to us. What would happen if we took our dusty, old useless thoughts and traded them in for our Father’s good, timeless and generous thoughts?

Instead of  “What am I doing here?” Try “God is about to teach me something new, I’m listening.”

Instead of  “I don’t belong here.” Try “Who am I here to meet that God wants me to connect with?”

Instead of “What is the point of this?” Try “What is it about the way I feel, that God want to heal?”

Instead of “I don’t think this is for people like me.” Try “Where can this experience take me?”

Did you see that?! Expectation for God to show up was stirred up! Stepping into this recent growth mindset at times felt like I had traveled to another country! It became necessary to adapt to a new language, appreciate new scents and not turn away from the new sights. The beauty of this for me, is that I was able to experience this with my husband. I mentioned to Marc that most of our major learning curves were experienced together. I feel like this is a special gift that has allowed us to bond. I don’t know that we intentionally set out to do that, other than our desire to function as a team.

As I look back over the last 20 years, there have been keyboard lessons, roller blades, experimenting with mixed media, learned jewelry making, traveled to Kenya with a friend, started ministry ventures with my husband, wrote a book, put business ideas to the test, put myself out there as a graphic designer…you get my point. I didn’t excel at all of them. Another version of myself would have felt ashamed for trying and failing but not this one! I can see now that with each experience I learned and was stretched. God was teaching me all along the way. He’s been cheering me on to poke holes in my limits and it’s paying off. 

Friend, when was the last time you exposed yourself to learning something new and completely outside of your realm? So much so that you felt the beautiful tension of curiosity and confusion? Are you due for some new lessons?

Until next time, I’ve got laundry to tackle.

What I’m reading/listening to: Various interviews on Rita Springer’s podcast, a YouTube interview with Seth Godin about his new book This Is Strategy, the book of John and Paul’s letter to the Ephesians

Song on repeat: Amen by Rita Springer

Blog entry No. 7