Recently, I was interested in handcrafting paper bags. I learned the structure of bags, and that filled my curiosity. Then, I have gradually realized that the time is coming to graduate from making paper bags.
That made me think of the process of leveling up in our lives. Let’s talk about it.
How to grow without stagnation
Sometimes, we want to grow without stagnation. In other words, we want to learn and act naturally.
However, we often struggle with emotions. The typical example is feeling negative emotions, such as fear, sadness, and discouragement. They prevent our changes.
One solution is to understand the natural cycle of growth. The big picture shows us why and when we need to accept negative emotions. Although I have explained it many times, I will update again. This perspective might reduce your emotional exhaustion.
The natural cycle of growth
There is a natural cycle of growth. If we follow the cycle, we can grow ourselves without pain.
The process of the cycle is as follows:
- We relax by giving up something. It sometimes makes us feel discouraged.
- Our circumstances urge us to do something different, including waiting. Although we often feel reluctant because we don’t know it well, rationality tells us we don’t have enough reason to refuse it. We still don’t have curiosity.
- When we give it a try, we find a fun part. Relaxation gives us room to enjoy new values and the logic behind them. In other words, we have curiosity. In this state, we can enjoy learning and are filled with hope. It improves some aspects of our lives that we were lacking.
- As we learn it, we start to feel the limits. We understand that repeating it alone cannot keep us growing. We come to feel discouraged and begin to realize that we are lacking other aspects.
- If there is nothing left to learn, we decide to graduate from the activity.
- (Return to the first step.)
Following this cycle would allow you to grow yourself.
My case
In my case of handcrafting paper bags, I am currently in the 4th step: starting to feel the limits.
After learning the structure of the paper bag and considering how to create it efficiently, I could no longer think of any more applications and improvements.
I felt, “After all, it is just a paper bag.” I could not find a concrete way to be rich, even if I used rare materials.
That told me that I have to graduate from making paper bags soon.
Giving up something calms our tension. Although that often triggers negative emotions, such as fear, sadness, and discouragement. They relieve our nerves. Negative emotions don’t harm us. They relax us.
That allows us to proceed to the next stage. We don’t need to stick to only one hope. Accepting negative emotions is one step before change begins.
If we are rational enough, we don’t even feel those positive and negative emotions. We feel the energy that harmonizes with our bodies’ condition.
In other words, there are no negatives and positives. We balance multiple aspects. That would be the ideal cycle in which we can grow naturally.
Conclusion
That is the natural cycle of growth.
If we are in such a cycle, we can grow ourselves without pain.
This perspective might reduce your emotional exhaustion.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
