Right now we are in the full swing of summer. Trees are lush, flowers are in full bloom, and stores and farmer's markets are starting to burst with fresh produce.
The tendency may be to focus on the product of summer, the fruit. But summer is a time of growth. If you garden, then you know that there's a lot that goes into growing vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes and raspberries. First comes the soil prep, then the planting of seeds or root stock, and thenthe continual watering, weeding, and pruning — not to mention the challenges like hailstorms and buggy pests. Plus, don't forget the waiting. Plants take time to grow and produce fruit. Tomatoes might not be ready to pick until late summer or early fall. And raspberries? Patience. Most likely that won't happen until next year.
Isn't it often the same for the endeavors we undertake? We begin with a picture in our minds about how the realization of our goal is going to look, and maybe that's all we see. It's not until we actually begin tilling and fertilizing the soil, planting the seeds, and all the other gritty details involved, that we realize how much hard work harvesting our dreams is going to take. When we realize what we're in for, the temptation may be to let our quest shrivel up and die on the vine, especially when we experience challenges and failures we didn't see coming. Because we live in a society of instant food, movies on demand and high speed communication, we may expect instant gratification when it comes to our goals, too.
How can we avoid giving up?
First, be aware of the process involved in reaching goals. The journey – the soil prep, planting, watering, weeding and patience – is as important as the fruit that will come in the end. In fact, it makes the enjoyment of the fruit that much sweeter. When you aren't living only for the fruit at the end of the season, you can enjoy the process, especially when it's connected to your passion and purpose.
Secondly, you are more apt to stick it out for the long haul if you have a beginner's mind. Brian Klemmer talks about this extensively in chapter 10 of his book, The Compassionate Samurai. Your willingness to approach your subject continually with new eyes will insure growth and progress toward your goal.
Thirdly, learn that there's nothing wrong with failure. In fact, compassionate samurai don't resist their failures; but use them to draw closer to their purpose. It takes practice and persistence to master a subject and especially at first, the learning curve is bound to be great. Failure is there to refine how you go about achieving your goals. It is there to redirect you and strengthen your character. For added inspiration, do an Internet search on famous failures. You might be surprised to find out you're in great company.
The process of growth is natural to anyone who has a burning desire to achieve something. No matter what your goal, remember that if you want something instant, you can make pudding. What you want is greater than that.
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