Our Inherent Growth Force

How do we grow inwardly? Let us take as an example how we grow in physical strength. The weight lifter sets for himself a goal beyond his present capacity. Suppose he has reached a 200 pound limit. Now he decides to reach a 250 pound capacity. He strains his muscles to lift a heavier weight than ever before. As he continues his exercises, his muscles are forced to adapt themselves to the increased load. The self-preservative force-the conatus-which is present in all living things compels the muscles to increase in strength. Inwardly the same phenomenon occurs. If we set ourselves the goal of working out some problem which we could not deal with before, our understanding is similarly stretched and new ideas come to us.

In lifting weights, we decide to lift the heavier load and apply ourselves to the task. But the body accomplishes the growth through its own mechanisms. Similarly, the understanding is exposed to a more difficult problem. We apply thought to the problem. But the real work of growth is achieved by a growth force that is inherent in our deeper intelligence. Our conscious effort is but a small part of the process. Deeper resources within us take over and work in a workshop deep within us that is beyond the reach or comprehension of our more superficial intellect.

If we believe that the awareness we possess is all that is possible, our growth will be minimal. We must have the intuitive faith that this deeper intelligence within us must be allowed to digest the problem and, in its own time, produce insights which our aware mind can grasp. Evidence of this process is observed when an idea or solution to some problem comes to us unexpectedly when we do not seem to be thinking about the problem. The more we understand this aspect of growth, the more we set it into operation by feeding problems into our minds just as we put food into our mouths and chew and swallow it. Only when we understand how this process operates can we achieve real growth.