Growing Into Your Vision

     There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, all

things in succession. That which grows fast withers as rapidly;

that which grows slowly endures.

J.S. Holland

My granddaughter Zoe was about 3 when I was spending an afternoon with her. When it was snack time, I gave her a glass of cranberry juice, She took a swig, shuddered, scowled and said dramatically, “Bitter.” 

Although I was surprised that “bitter” was iin her vocabulary, I’d seen that shudder and scowl before. From adults. In seminars. Certain words and concepts often produce such a reaction. Two big eliciters of scowls are “patience” and “small steps.”

What so many fail to realize is that a vision, by its very nature, demands that we be willing to patiently take small steps. A vision shows us what’s possible, not what’s already accomplished. Being willing to become the person who is living that vision requires leaving behind the person who isn’t. It’s starts by understanding and accepting that any vision or dream is first of all a call to growth. Accepting that call doesn’t have to be intimidating if you approach it in the right way.

My friend John is an avid collector who has spent that past several years building an impressive collection of old radios. “I found another treasure today!” he’ll announce after one of his estate sale hunts. People who collect are always on a quest and know that the fun comes from never being quite sure when or where the next treasure will be found.

Have you ever thought about taking a collector’s approach to accomplishing your dreams? Success is a cumulative process and keeping that in mind can make getting there a perpetual treasure hunt. The trick is to notice and celebrate little bits of progress, not just major advances.

Even more valuable is putting into practice what I call The Law of Gradual Increase. I learned this one from my brother Jim. On a visit to California one winter, I noticed that Jim was looking remarkably fit and trim. There was no middle-aged potbelly or sagging muscles to be seen on him. When I commented on how terrific he looked, he said, “I just did 64 sit-ups this morning.”

“How did you arrive at that odd number?” I asked.

“Well, a few months ago,” he explained, “I heard a speaker talking about fitness. I had gotten lazy about regular exercise and was finding it hard to get going again. He suggested that we start doing two sit-ups a day for a week and then add two more the following week and so on. At the end of a year, he pointed out, we’d be doing 100 sit-ups every day. I decided to take his advice and it’s been easy to build up little by little.”

Reverend Robert Schuller often reminds his readers and listeners, “By the inch it’s a cinch; by the yard it’s hard.” This is more than a catchy phrase, however. Using the Law of Gradual Increase transforms the impossible into the ridiculously simple. 

The road to success can not be traveled in seven-league boots. While we may be impatient for our vision to be realized, keep in mind all of the people who have received success before their self-image was ready for it. Where are they now? 

If you see your vision as an invitation for you to discover and become your best, most fabulous self, you’ll awaken to the fun of the journey. You’ll rejoice in going just a little bit farther week by week. You’ll build something strong, lasting and rich.  Because, in the end, visions aren’t really about having; they’re about becoming.