Why Does Stephen Covey Describe Personal Growth as Holy Ground?
In the classic Stephen Covey book you’ve probably either already read or heard of a thousand times…The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Covey makes a bold statement about personal growth. He writes:
Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.
For years I’ve had this quote highlighted, and never quite understood what Covey was saying. Unfortunately, since he is no longer with us, I can’t ask him directly. However, recently after re-reading his book for probably the fourth or fifth time, I think I have a grasp of what Covey was saying in this statement.
Personal growth comes from what’s inside of you, not outside of you. It’s a testament of your inner strength. It’s not something a coach, teacher, or parent can force on you. Others do influence your personal growth journey. But ultimately all growth still must come from within.
As a result, personal growth is a spiritual experience just like your relationship to your faith and belief system and the holy ground that represents it. Correspondingly, just as in any holy ground, personal growth is not something to treat with irreverence. Instead, it’s something you nurture with intent, maybe even with a ritualistic approach as if it were a religion.
So, once you physically stop growing around the age of 18, it’s your responsibility to continue to nurture your mental growth just as you nurture your faith. Moreover, there is no better way to do this than to start with Covey’s first two habits in his seven habits of highly effective people. That is:
1) Be Proactive
2) Begin with the End in Mind