The Path out of Loneliness: Finding and Fostering Connection to God, Ourselves, and One Another

by Mark Mayfield

They recognize the importance of growth. Far too often, I get individuals in my office who are seeking counseling because their lives are falling apart, but instead of looking for ways to grow, they want to sit in their struggle and blame others. For growth to happen, you must first recognize its value. They have a growth mindset. Growth isn’t only important; it’s possible. Having a growth mindset means you recognize you don’t have it all figured out but that you have the skill needed to move forward. This is different from having a fixed mindset, where you don’t believe change or growth can happen. There is an innate, reflective honesty about them. This speaks for itself. They don’t back down when things get hard. Fortitude and perseverance are key characteristics. They’ve developed grit and resiliency. They’ve found the ability to push through when things get tough. They’re humble. The opposite of proud! They’re teachable. Can you take correction? Are you able to admit when you’re wrong? They have a basic understanding of change and aren’t afraid to make necessary adjustments. This might sound like a big task, but I’ll break down the stages of change here so that you have a deeper, more comprehensive understanding.