The law of intentionality: Growth doesn't just happen on it's own.
LAW 1 — CHAPTER 1: The Law of Intentionality
Growth Doesn’t Just Happen…
LEARN IT
“Do you have a plan to grow?”
II. Personal Growth is not a natural process in most people’s lives.
A. Ask this question: “How do you think this building we are in right now was built?”
B. In what order were the parts of the building put in place?
C. What do you think John meant when he said, “If you focus on goals, you may hit the goals, but that doesn’t guarantee growth? If you focus on growth, you will grow and always hit growth.”
1. What is the difference between “goals” and “growing”?
III. Growth Gap Traps
1. The Assumption Gap – “I assume that I will automatically grow.”
A. If one assumes he/she will automatically grow, what is the likely outcome?
B. How can one know if they are growing or not?
2. The Knowledge Gap – “I don’t know how to grow”
A. Not knowing how to grow can be a powerful reason to simply not try to grow.
B. If one does not know how to grow, then one needs to ask those who do. This study is a great start.
3. The Timing Gap – “It’s not the right time to begin.”
A. Discuss “The Law Of Diminishing Intent”
B. What happens the longer we wait to begin our journey?
C. List some of the reasons (excuses) one might offer for the timing of personal growth not being right.
D. Ask the group, “What do you think about the idea of starting your journey even though you are scared and unprepared?
4. The Mistake Gap – “I am afraid of making mistakes”
A. Remember, growing is not always a clean and neat pursuit.
B. Discuss the question asked by Robert Schuller, “What would you attempt if you knew you would not fail?”
C. Talk about this idea: “Once we decide to grow, we must expect mistakes and welcome them as a sign that we are moving in the right direction.”
5. The Perfection Gap – “I have to find the best way before I start”
A. Where the Mistake Gap says, “I can’t move out of fear of making a mistake”; the Perfection Gap says, “I will move only when I have the perfect plan.
B. Both of the above Gaps are simply excuses for not starting at all!
C. The best plans for growing happen as we grow, not before we grow
6. The Inspiration Gap – “I don’t feel like doing it.”
A. Out of all the Gaps, this is the one that requires a simple decision: “Will I do it or not?”
B. Discuss this truth: “The major difference between those who do it, and those who don’t do it, is those who do it, do it.”
C. Feelings are unreliable – Action will make the difference.
D. Discuss this truth: “You are more likely to act yourself into a feeling than feel yourself into an action.”
E. How many pages could one fill with excuses to not start growing?
7. The Comparison Gap – “Others are better than I am”
A. Two truths about others:
1. There is always someone better
2. Rejoice for the better ones, for you will learn from those out in front of you!
B. Someone may be looking to YOU as the better – who them the way!
8. The Expectation Gap – “I thought it would be easier than this.”
A. Lay out this paradigm (What is “lucky” is usually not) Preparation (growth) + Attitude + Opportunity + Action (doing something about it) = Luck
B. If Rome was not built in a day, how long are you willing to give yourself to grow?
C. Growing starts with Preparation – this study is part of your preparation
LIVE IT
“Start Making Your Plan…NOW”
IV. MAKING THE TRANSITION TO INTENTIONAL GROWTH
A. Ask the Big Questions Now
1. Where do you want to go in life?
2. What direction do you want to go?
3. What’s the farthest you can imagine going?
4. How long will this take?
Not having all the answers to these questions immediately is normal. But ASK them and keep exploring them daily!
B. Do It Now
1. Look at your watch right now and tell me when “Some Day” strikes?
2. Cite this saying, “Now is the best time to start anything.”
C. Face The Fear Factor
1. Fear of failure
2. Fear of trading security for the unknown
A. Discuss this reality: “Security is a myth”
3. Fear of being overextended on resources; time, money, energy
4. Fear of what others think
5. Fear that success will push others away.
Now ask yourself: “Which emotion is stronger; the desire to change and grow, or one of these fears.
I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.
I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!