It’s often overwhelming to consider all our many different areas of growth, particularly when major changes are needed. But the adage of eating an elephant one bite at a time applies here as well. And often this can be accomplished by having seasons of special awareness – giving extra focus to one thing at a time.
Each month has now been dedicated to bring special attention to some medical condition, social cause, people group, or the like. And the point of these months is not to suggest this is the only time to engage these issues. But it is to bring intentional focus to important areas that might otherwise get overlooked in trying to remember it all.
And we can bring a similar approach to our journey of growth as well. For example, whether a month or a given season, we might choose to focus on our physical wellbeing – prioritizing our sleep, diet, exercise, etc. We might then focus on our inner world – spending more time reading, journaling, or meaningful hobbies. Seasons focusing on our marriage, parenting, friendship, or life with God might then follow.
Of course, giving special awareness to a particular area doesn’t mean we get to neglect the rest. For instance, we must still show up as a husband and father even as we’re being more intentional about caring for our own inner world. But all too often in our efforts to keep up with everything we end up doing nothing particularly well. Focused attention on one area at a time allows for a season of intentional growth. And because it’s just for a season, there’s little danger of us becoming so hyper-focused on it that we forget everything else.
In the end, don’t let your many areas of improvement overwhelm you. Give special attention to one area at a time as you continue your journey toward well-rounded growth.
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