Reason: the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences..
We often need “reason” for… everything. (Things occur, and then we understand them, and then we grow.)
While we may not need a reason, for example, to buy something for our spouse, we do need a reason for… becoming a better spouse. What are the areas we want to grow or become better? These are the areas we will invite reason into.
Do we want to grow in the area of treating others with kindness? If the answer is yes, we now can reflect on the reasons why… Is it to win friends, to become an influencer, to change the world, to create a harmonious atmosphere for our family and friends?
This reason is the thing that keeps us in the game of growth, that gives us the willpower, focus, and determination, day in and day out. Without reason, there is no growth.
For his people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ -Matt 13:15
Even God wants us to succeed, so He gives us reason in the areas we thought we had none. For example one might say: “I have no desire to be healthy.” Until health problems arise. Then along comes the desire to live longer, perhaps get our weight under control, manage our lives better when we think of what we’ll be missing out on. It is reason that provokes heart change.
Yes, we start with faith, but in order to grow, we need reason.
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Reason for Growth
You may remember (depending on your age) the Toys R Us jingle, “I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a toys r us kid…” And then it continues on about all the things that are wonderful about staying young. Do you remember it? It was so delightful and catchy that I still sometimes find myself breakout into song with these exact lyrics when life gets too hard.
Needless to say, no matter how engaging this tune is with the lyrics, there are several reasons to change it to something that promotes growing up instead of staying young. In fact, in the new roles we take on as grown ups there are at least seven potential reasons:
Reason #1: for children
Someone has to take the role of the child. Yes, that is true. So why not let it be a child, not us. Children need grown ups to thrive…and it feels good to be needed.
Reason #2: for a spouse
Marriage is one of the greatest commitments we could ever make as a adult, and with commitment comes growth and creativity. It’s thrilling that we can watch and be inspired to a newfound sense of being from another human being through the bond of marriage.
Reason #3: for work
Grown ups work… When we hold a job or go into business, or simply choose to do excellent work at home, this work has the potential to produce something; and with diligence it can multiply. As a result it can make a real grown up difference.
Reason #4: for the poor
Or those less fortunate. One way to tell who the less fortunate are takes asking grown up questions, using grown up discernment, and offering tangible help. When we give…it makes us part of a solution. Having an impact on the world this way is very adult.
Reason #5: for memories
The older we get, the more memories we make. Memories are a great way to open our hearts to new possibilities, remember the old, learn from and let the cycle of growth continue.
Reason #6: for vision
As we grow older, the vision of our eyes may wane. But our insight has the opportunity for bounds of improvement as we overcome life’s challenges. The older we get, our growing insight helps us to see things we may never have the chance to see staying young.
Reason #7: for travel
Speaking of physical sight… there’s so much to see! Think about those things that you have not seen and may never see in your lifetime. Just thinking about it compels us to growth. Challenges us to find ways to effectively manage all of the above to make travel possible.
BONUS Reason: for freedom
As a child, we do not get to choose what time we go to bed, what we eat, what we shop for… we don’t travel on our own or decide what we want do with our time and money. We have the opportunity to make a real impact on the world around us by choosing and using freedom with reason.
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