Knowing And Growing

It has been said that "the more you know, the better you grow." Growth does not happen accidentally, rather it happens intentionally. At the center of every significant success is knowledge. It is when you have knowledge that you will grow. As a matter of fact, your life will either expand or shrink in response to your knowledge. What you do not know has automatically become your master. But when your knowledge increases, you gain mastery over it. When your knowledge increases, you will be surprised how possibilities will also increase. Not just that, but your confidence is also boosted, and limitations reduce.

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I remember what happened to me some years back in the place where I did my internship. In the first few weeks of my stay there, there was a machine I found so difficult and complicated to use. In fact, the thought of using it was scary. I would rather use the alternative even though it made the work more tasking and took very long to complete. The machine was new, and when they taught how to use it, I was not around because I went for my clearance. Using the older machine made the work so difficult and more demanding, but I did not have a choice because I did not know how to use the new machine.

After about 3 weeks of all these, I reached out to one of my colleagues who was already using the machine well to put me through. In less than 2 hours, he gave me a comprehensive tutorial on how to use it. It was amazing. When I learnt it, I discovered that my work became easier. I started completing tasks easier and better, and then I became more productive. That was when I discovered that the only thing that was standing between me and being more productive and growing was knowledge. When I got the needed knowledge, growth became easy, and everything began to fall into place. One of the reasons behind the struggles of many is lack of knowledge. When you acquire more knowledge, life will become a lot easier.

There is nothing that shapes someone's perspective as knowledge. You will be surprised how 2 people would be faced with the same scenario and they will respond differently to it and have different results. This is not because one of them is luckier, but it comes down to difference in knowledge level. When you know more, you will tend to see options and opportunities when others see obstacles and challenges. This is because you will begin to recognise pattern, anticipate effects, and become better at decisions. Growth is better when you shift from just reacting to acting with wisdom. The lessons you have learnt and the experiences you have gathered will become tools to help you to effectively navigate the world.

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Growth also requires humility. Humility to know that you have not known enough, and the willingness to keep knowing. The moment you think that you have known enough, you will stop growing. The people who continuously grow are not those who have claimed to know it all, but those who remain students. They keep learning, they ask questions, welcome feedbacks, listen attentively, observe, and read well. They understand that there is no shame in ignorance, but there is shame in refusing to learn. The quest to know more is the fuel that powers growth. The more you are willing to learn new things, the better you grow. Everyday you live, you will be exposed to countless opportunities to keep learning.

Knowledge also has a way of expanding your impact on others, not just on yourself. You will begin to treat people better and with empathy. As a leader for example, you do not grow because of your title, but because of your understanding. As a mentor, you will grow more by sharing knowledge. When I was in school, I discovered that the more I taught people about a topic, the more I understood it. This goes to prove that you actually grow when you share your knowledge. Knowledge is actually not meant for you alone. In the same way, growth is not meant for you alone. Your knowledge should also position you to lift others and help them to grow too.

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