Where is this hamster wheel going?
The unexamined life is not worth living
Do you know that hamsters can run 10 kilometers every night on a wheel? Take a look at this fascinating 3:55-minute video:
In many ways, life can feel like running on a hamster wheel. I went to engineering school and got a degree. I married my high school sweetheart, got a job, and bought a house. Later, I had a kid and started saving for retirement. Until recent years, I haven’t taken enough time to think…do I even know where I’m going? Or am I just running in the same direction as those around me?
Too many times to count, I have talked myself out of trying something because it’s outside of the identity I see myself in. I have fallen into the trap of comparing myself unfavorably to others because I may not be gifted in the same areas they are. I’ll say this plainly: If the measure of how well you are doing in life is based on how you compare to others, you will always be miserable.
If the measure of how well you are doing in life is based on how you compare to others,
you will always be miserable.
Each of us has battles we fight daily, hourly, and minute-by-minute in the space between our ears. What can be done to stop, get off the hamster wheel, and think about where we are, and where we are actually going?
In the last few years, I’ve learned that personal growth is THE thing that’s been missing. For years, I looked to others to tell me what my next step was. I assumed that I would automatically grow into who I was supposed to be. Here’s the hard truth:
Personal growth is not a natural process. Most of us don’t do it.
Growing starts with what John C. Maxwell calls the “Law of Intentionality.”1 We must have the intention to grow and then act on it. Once I got my degree and started a job, I assumed that my company would take care of me. This is simply not true. YOU must take complete ownership of your personal growth if you want to reach your potential.
When you take your last breath, will you wish you had stayed late one more day at the office or that your 401K had a few more dollars in it? Likely not.
On this Sunday, take a pause before jumping into the week and consider these four ideas:
Prioritize yourself. Decide to put your growth on the front burner. No one else will do it for you. You can’t add value to others unless you first add value to yourself.
Examine your life. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Start journaling for a few minutes every day. Without rules. Write it in a notebook or type it on your phone. Where are you growing, learning, failing? Review at the end of each week. Take one small step each week based on what you learn.
Done beats perfect. I want this blog to be perfect every week. I want every reader to get value from it. I’ve had to get over myself and realize that’s impossible! Start your personal growth journey today. There isn’t a nagging middle school teacher looking over your shoulder grading your personal journal.
Read one personal growth book over the next month. Not a reader? Get the audiobook on the free Libby app2 or Audible. Most people don’t read books. They watch way too much TV. Be different. I have several ideas on impactful books to help you get started. Do reach out to me for ideas!
Your creator made you with unique gifts no one else in the world has. Let that sink in for a minute. The world is best served when you understand your gifts and embrace them fully. When is the best time to plant a tree? 10 years ago. When is the second best time? NOW.
Great stuff here !
Absolutely loved this one! Weekly progress check ins with intentionality will help me so much. Thanks!