A surprisingly simple growth mindset activity wrapped in seasonal metaphor
During winter, as the wind rushes, rain pours and everything freezes (including me), I reflect on why I often resist the winter seasons. I deeply long to embrace summer again in all its glory, towels sprawled across the sand, dipping into the waves, soaking in the press of sun on my back – all of life warm, glorious and good. In winter, I lack the the audacity to dip into the waves. Even the trees feel bleak, lacking in their usual colour. My soul hungers for the blossom, the warmth and the beauty again.
And yet, below the surface of the soil, roots are forming and growing and breathing life into their surroundings.
Nutrients are replenished. The rain is providing nourishment to the tree. In wet winds, leaves are snatched and branches are left bare. Yet, there is purpose in this all. There is purpose in the storm and the cold, more than you could ever see: growth is occurring deep beneath the soil.
Deep roots are receiving nourishment from the wet and cold: I allow that thought to cradle my mind into believing ‘winter is good, too. Without roots, there is no fruit.’ A reminder to cling to now – the dim seasons are good. More than good, winter is essential for life. I’ve often wondered how God has used the trials in my life to draw me to Himself (longings for new seasons, curdling emotions behind brokenness in life, soul-stretching of permanent overseas moves). And exactly that, He is holding us, molding us, making us into vessels to be used for His glory.
But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 54:8
Nourished growth sustains beautiful blossoming in due season. Deep growth requires perseverance, steadfastness and resilience; and we must always rely on Him.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:2-6
The surprisingly simple growth mindset activity
Without deep roots, there is no fruit. Allow the difficulties of life to refine your character, build your perseverance, grow your capacity. Soon, summer will shine upon in her radiance and glory, the blossoms will burst in colour.
3 Growth Mindset Journal Prompts:
Grab a pen and a journal.
Slow down, pause and reflect.
- Where are you resisting the current seasons are you in? How could you embrace what God has give you now to glorify Him?
- When have ‘roots’ been developed in your life (perhaps even in hard seasons) that have resulted in growth?
- What are you growing now? Draw the ‘roots’ of your life and what is sustaining this season (what God is teaching you, habits, goals, thoughts, relationships).
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