Last week I wrote about how there’s a difference between focusing on what we want to do and focusing on who we want to become. Because without considering what kind of person we want to grow into, we have no reference point for determining whether what we’re doing is helping or hindering our progress.
But just thinking about who we want to become isn’t enough. We may have grand ideas, but if those ideas remain only in the realm of thought, and are not translated into the actions and rhythms of our daily lives, it will be difficult—if not impossible—to grow into a different kind of person.
The make up of our days and weeks—how we spend our time and energy—affects who we become. So if there are certain qualities or characteristics we want to grow in, it’s vital that we regularly devote time and attention to them.
If I want to be a certain kind of husband or father, then it’s important that I’m regularly investing time and energy into growing in those areas. This may mean blocking out time during the day or week to connect with my kids or my wife; it may mean reading a book, or getting counsel from someone I can learn from. Whatever it is, the key is that I actually block out time in my schedule for these kinds of actions. Otherwise, I run the risk of getting so busy that I never intentionally invest in the areas I say are important. And if I never invest in them, I have little reason to believe that growth will happen on its own.
Becoming the person you want to become starts with a vision of where you want to go. But once that vision’s in place, it also takes being intentional about taking regular, ongoing steps in that direction.