The word “Growth” implies improvement or increase, as most people think of growing as becoming bigger or more of something. I think another perspective worth considering though is growth as continually striving to remain small. One moment, hear me out.
Have you ever heard someone being called a big fish in a small pond? It means they're only impressive because they're in an average or below average environment, relative to themselves. An equivalent expression, commonly used in Nigeria, is to call someone a local champion.
It's easy to be a local champion. If you keep improving, it is quite possible to outstrip your peers and eventually be the best at something in your immediate environment. However, if you remain the best for too long, it is easy to stagnate and no longer be motivated to grow.
How then do you continue to grow? You move ponds. It's scary to go from being the best at something, to being average or even seemingly "mediocre", but I've heard it said that if you're the smartest in a room for too long, it's time to change rooms. Moving to a pond with bigger fish than yourself, whether the fish be smarter or more accomplished than you, forces you to up your game.
This is why, counterintuitive though it may be, I believe the true measure of growth is how often you can start over as a little fish, and not how long you remain a big fish. There should always be room for improvement, and there is precious little room available to big fish in little ponds.
I've done a bit of pond hopping myself recently, and it's very scary, but I know that fear is an indicator of growth. New experiences get the adrenaline pumping, and that adrenaline helps keep me sharp. I'm not in Kansas anymore but there is a lot more room for growth in my new pond. Here's wishing everyone else in similar shoes the best and hoping that others feel encouraged to take the necessary leap to bigger ponds.
Until next time,
Peace and Flying Fish.
Pond Hopping
Thanks for writing this
to peace and flying fishes and big ponds that offer respite 🤍