Grow Tall Anyways!

IT’S OK TO OUTGROW PEOPLE WHO DON’T GROW.  GROW TALL, ANYWAYS. 

 

My dad died in early 1992. I was only 33 years old. We had just begun to connect at an ‘adult’ level when a heart attack claimed him. 

But he left me with some pearls of wisdom that have remained and helped me over the past 30 years. 

Wisdom sayings like: "Hard work and perseverance can lead to great achievements” and "Learn from your mistakes and use them as stepping stones to grow." One of my favourites is "Be grateful for what you have and appreciate the little things in life."

Like I said, pearls of wisdom. 

Before I left home at 18 to attend college and start my life on a speaking circuit, we were chatting, and he dropped a one-liner on me that planted a seed that eventually grew into my passion and profession. He said, “Son, grow you, not someone else.” 

It wasn’t until I came across an anonymous saying a few years later that the wisdom of that one-liner began to sink in. 

“It’s okay to outgrow people who don’t grow. Grow tall anyways.” ~ Anonymous 

Here’s what I now understand about “Grow you, not someone else.” 

If I live my life to meet the expectations of others - what they think I should be and do - then I am trying to grow into someone else. 

To be the ME that is ME and not be someone else's version of me, I found myself outgrowing relationships that no longer align with my goals, values, or dreams. 

Not everyone is in my life for life. I learned that to truly embrace the essence of who I am — the unique ME — I have to live an authentic life, and this authenticity is about honouring my beliefs, values, dreams, and ambitions. 

 

So, this is my motivational message for you today, GROW YOU, NOT SOMEONE ELSE. 

As you continue to grow, no matter what season of life you are in, you’ll begin to recognise that not all relationships are there to help YOU grow into the authentic YOU. 

Some relationships might hold you back because they are rooted in who you once were rather than who you are becoming.

It’s okay to outgrow people who don’t grow. Grow tall anyways.