Growing up in a hood with siblings and neighbors is a memory I’ll cherish lifelong. The fun…oh the games! With nothing of responsibilities to worry about, we could play the whole day away and then return with headaches, scratches, or a broken somewhere, from too many activities as kids.
One thing I remember was the living space we turned upside down daily. It was more than an ample space for every somersault or race around. Whenever we got tired of using the living space as a play battleground, we would relocate downstairs and to our immediate surroundings, unleashed. What little rascals we were then, what trouble for our poor parents who’d have to keep up with the thrills and ills of our daily adrenaline rushes.
Adulting comes with one peculiarity for most people and that is ‘Leaving’. There is this saying that 20 friends never remain together for 20 years. Life just happens and every kid grows their separate ways. Reminiscing on the bond and missing the other playmates took me back to same living space after a very long time. Lo and behold, everything and everywhere that once appeared massive now looked so small. It was difficult to imagine we had that much fun in such a small space.
I came to the conclusion that the place never changed, only the little bodies grew too big for the living space.
I couldn’t imagine me doing a night in that space now because of claustrophobia. The atmosphere felt suffocating and the people seen are not like the people I am used to now.
The take home from this is this, growth, both physical, mental, and psychological has occurred. Growth in all understanding is ‘increase’. It is a necessary phenomenon for transitioning life’s phases. Anything that has its growth stifled, is eliminated from life’s competition through natural selection. To grow may or may not require you to edge out the competition but by all means growth is a biomarker for fulfillment or self-actualization.
To stifle this growth would have you do one or all of these things.
1. GOING BACK TO THE COMFORT ZONE.
Regardless of the fun and perhaps safety, move on. You must leave the area of comfort and take some risk to try new endeavors. Returning to this past is a recipe for failure. You will be choked by that small space.
2. TAKING BABY STEPS
Going all out to achieve growth will require you to take steps proportionate to the current level. As a kid, the time taken to cover an area by walking is longer than that of an adult. Stride the level. Refusing to move your level will slow growth.
3. CHOOSING WRONG CIRCLE
The amount of progress you achieve is determined by the company you keep. You can’t grow beyond that which you associate with. If you fail to leave the ‘small friends’ you will only do small things. Surround yourself with people you intend to be like.
4. NOT ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITIES ACCORDED THROUGH PHASES
If you run from responsibilities, you lose an integral benefit that comes with challenges. Resilience is an attribute that keeps you going despite hurdles. One who isn’t accustomed to accepting challenges stunts their growth. I mean we can’t remain kids without responsibility.
5. STOP MOVING
You want to fail, incessant stops will do that for you. You must be consistent in whatever you do. Be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn. Celebrate victories while you learn from mistakes as well.
Grow beyond that living space. The world awaits your greatness.
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