Quite a few years ago my son, Shawn, was given two turtles, Red Ear Sliders, to be exact.
They are great turtles, and typical to the turtle, they will most likely live a very long time. Over the years we’ve noticed that they have only grown as large as their environment allows. Each time we upgrade aquarium size it seems like they grew just a bit larger. Well, sure enough, Google confirmed our suspicion that captive turtle’s growth is influenced by how much space is available to them.
So, where am I going with this, you’re thinking….
Interestingly enough, just as turtles are affected by the aquarium in which they live, we also are affected by our own environment.
1If your current circumstances do nothing to help you grow, you’re going to have a hard time enlarging yourself to reach your potential.
That’s why it’s crucial that you create an environment of growth around you. That kind of environment should look like this:
Place others before yourself.
Let yourself be challenged.
Your focus is forward and only looking back to learn.
Create an affirming atmosphere.
Try working outside of your comfort zone from time to time.
Be around others who are growing and also challenge you to grow.
Be humble and open to change.
Be with those who model growth and expect growth from your leadership.
A life of continual growth is never easy, but a good environment makes the challenge a little less difficult. So today, think about these two questions.
Does your environment include the characteristics listed above?
Which ones can be improved so you can grow to your full potential?
from John Maxwell - A Leaders Heart, 365-day Devotional Journal