Your environment determines your growth

About a year ago, I planted a few succulents. It’s a hobby I was dabbling in, hoping it would grow into an income stream. That has not happened yet but that’s a story for another day.

I had picked up random leaves and sprouts from a friend who had plenty and scattered these odds and ends on a bit of cleared earth to grow as I figured out where to plant them. Eventually I bought three sizeable decorative clay pots to transplant them into. However, the three pots were not enough for all my little plants, so I spray painted some old blue-band tubs to act as extra pots. By the time of the transplant, all the seedlings were about the same size, say 5-10cm in diameter. I set them in their new homes and left them to themselves. That’s the beauty of succulents; they are low maintenance.

Over time I discovered something interesting. Although all the plants had got the same soil mix, and were placed in the same area therefore receiving the same amount of rain and sun, the plants in the larger pots were soon twice, then thrice the size of the ones in the smaller plastic tubs. The size of the pots was determining the size of the plants.

Just like these succulents, our environment will determine the extent of our growth. There is only so far one can grow in a small restricted environment. JC Maxwell described his experience of this as being a medium sized fish in a very small pond. He realised he needed to leave that comfortable space where he was close to the top of the food chain and move to a larger pond where he was relatively smaller, with more space to grow.

Luckily for us, unlike the plants, we can change our environment when we realise it is limiting our growth in some way. Most times this calls for moving away from the comfortable and familiar into new spaces. It is uncomfortable and it is scary but in the end it pays off, allowing us to reach our fullest potential in a way we never would have in the smaller environment.

...on creating environments...

Lately I’ve been really stressed over loads of different things. In a bid to release this stress, I considered retail shopping but eventually opted for a trip to a spa. Besides, I had developed strange muscle and joint pains that I figured could benefit from a massage.

 So I call up this place I’d never been before and show up, all strung tight and anxious. I arrived and the receptionist welcomed me in a calm low voice, listened to my queries about the services offered and answered all my questions politely. The air smelled fragrant and the staff were polite but nothing had really made an impression on my mood yet.

All that changed as soon as I followed one of the staff through the next door. The hall was dimly lit by fragrant candles, with soothing music playing softly. There were a number of staff and clients but all were talking in hushed tones and walking softly. The few rooms whose doors stood open displayed massage tables overlaid with pristine white sheets sprinkled with petals. Displayed on the walls, well-chosen artwork held inspiring and uplifting sayings.

I had only taken a few steps down the hallway when I realised the greater part of my tension had already melted away. I was not yet out of my street clothes but was already feeling much better. As I changed, a funny thought ran through my mind “I wonder how these people would inform each other of a fire”.

But close on the heels of that thought was another more sobering one that stayed with me throughout my visit. Clearly these people had gone to great lengths to create an environment that fostered relaxation. Beyond the lighting and fragrances, the staff were trained to talk, to walk with measured steps and to display calm.

That really got me thinking: What kind of environment(s) am I creating? At home? At work? Does my environment foster what I claim to stand for or to believe in? When someone comes into my environment, do they immediately perceive my values or do they have to first spend hours listening to me? Even without digging very deep, I knew the answer was a resounding “NO.”

A lot of work remains to be done.

Fearless 2019: The Five Capital Analysis

I spent the greater part of last week in an environment(s) that stretched my mind and heart and will stretch my actions for a long time to come. The Fearless Summit is something that I probably would never have attended had it not been a requirement for the Harvest Institute. However, now that I have been to one, I am quite sure I will attend many others in the years to come. 

There was something profound to learn from each individual speaker and session, it would take ages to talk about every single one. But by way of an overall evaluation, here’s a sneak peek of what I picked up last week.

Spiritually: I definitely made a reconnection with God that I felt had been lacking for some time. The atmosphere of worship was amazing and all the speakers kept pointing us back to God, to prayer, to fellowship, to a deeper walk, to the Bible. It was reaffirmed for me that the Church is the hope of the world, and since God is on our side we should boldly step into those spheres we usually shy away from, and carry the light within to those very places of darkness we shun.

Relationally: I got to spend quality time with amazing people. Old friendships were cemented by the shared experience of travel and conference. My hosts were old friends and it made the stay so much better having a good landing place, not having to worry about meals and not having to be on my “best behaviour”…HAHA. New friendships were forged that will definitely last a long time. 

Physically: I got much needed time away from the routine and although the days were full, I got to rest. I did not check emails and the high charges for roaming ensured that I was hardly online so I could get away from the distraction of social media and concentrate on the moment. Since I lived in the estate just adjacent to the venue, I got in some physical exercise by walking to and fro, and cimbing two flights of stairs to the apartment.

Financially: I definitely spent money but it was within budget. I saw many attractive things but to control my spending I listed down whatever caught my fancy (and its cost) and then reviewed the list later to see whether it fit in budget and I still wanted it. I even had money left over to give! That’s definitely a first while traveling. I picked up on some business ideas that I am going to follow through…watch this space!!

Intellectually: My mind was renewed on so many levels. Being in an environment as excellent as Mavuno Hill City does stuff to the mind. New ideas, new approaches to old challenges, new options….all of these were flooding into my mind from the minute I set my foot in the place and have continued to bombard me since.

Fearless Summit 2019 has not left me the same and I believe these changes it has wrought in me will carry on to influence every person I meet, every place I go and every situation I face.

He called me beautiful

I think I have a good face and on a good day I could call myself pretty, but it’s very rarely that I have placed myself in the “beautiful” category.

Now I have struggled with adult acne for the past five or so years and it has left its mark, both on my skin and on my self-image. Earlier this year, I began to see a dermatologist (again) and started on a treatment regimen that first seemed to help but then my skin reverted to its “normal” state and got progressively worse. 

A generalised break-out maybe would not be so bad but couple that with a dose of compulsive skin picking and you have a royal mess. For the past month, my face has been a study in pustules, papules, sores and scars, and my self-confidence has taken a serious hit.

So, imagine the lift to my spirit when, in the midst of all that, someone calls me “beautiful”? He was a total stranger. I am usually reserved and wary of strangers, so such conversations usually last five minutes tops. But he called me “beautiful.” Needless to say, the conversation lasted almost two hours, and I believe that out of a simple compliment given off-handedly, a lasting friendship has been born.