Day 9: Growth

Growth (Unpacking Part 6)

If you’re not growing, you’re dying.

—Anthony Robbins

The above quote might seem, by itself, like a banal platitude, one that doesn’t warrant much discussion or contemplation or cerebration. But we’ll ask you to bracket your skepticism for a moment and think about the following.

Think about a plant.

More specifically, think about a fruit.

A fruit you enjoy.

Let’s say it’s an apple.

When an apple is still on the tree, it’s still growing.

But once it’s picked, it starts to die.

This isn’t always apparent though.

When you see an apple at your local market, you don’t think of it as a dying thing.

In fact, ostensibly it’s “ripe,” which makes you think it’s in some sort of ideal state.

This isn’t true though.

And as a person you are no different.

Things might look great on your surface.

They did for us: nice cars, big houses, high salaries, etc.

But we were dying on the inside.

Rotting when we appeared ripe.

Unhappy. Unfulfilled. Unsatisfied with life.

A life without meaning.

But guys, what they hell does this have to do with minimalism?

Nothing.

And yet, in a broader sense, everything.

Why did we get rid of our excess stuff? Well, there are a lot of answers, right?

To reclaim our time, to live a more meaningful life, to contribute to others, and…

To grow as an individual.

You see, like the apple, if we are not growing, we are dying.

And not just in the physical sense, but in every sense of the word.

Dying.

Physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, spiritually.

We hope this doesn’t sound like some abstract, esoteric pontificating.

Because it’s not.

It’s the truth. You are getting rid of the excess things in your life because they are not important.

And if you want to feel alive, really alive, then you must grow.

What have you wanted to do for the longest time, but haven’t been able to because you don’t have the time or the resources or the drive to do it? Eat healthier? Quit smoking? Run a marathon? Write a novel? Quit your soul crushing day job? Travel around the world? Start a popular blog?

You can. And all of these things will help you be more fulfilled.

Why? Because they help you grow as a person.

And growth isn’t always easy.

Sometimes the most growth comes from the most difficult tasks.

Think about working out.

More specifically, think about a basic exercise that many men and women do: bicep curls.

When you’re doing ten bicep curls, which one is the most difficult?

Of course, the tenth one is most difficult.

But which curl gets you the most growth?

Unpacking

Ryan unpacked some clothes today, but that was it.

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Go back to day 8 of your journey

Move on to day 10 of your journey

Go to the main page: Our Journey Into Minimalism: 21 Days That Changed Our Lives