Feeding the Monster
What grows in your life because you feed it?
Growth happens when we focus on it, create habits that support it, and consistently invest our energy into it. Over time, I have come to believe that personal growth evolves in stages. As I reflected on my own journey, I realized that each stage of life is shaped by what we choose to feed—our thoughts, our beliefs, and our actions.
The reality is simple: whatever we feed grows.
Whether positive or negative, we strengthen what we continually give our attention to. We perpetuate cycles of behavior through our daily choices, often without realizing it. So, the question becomes: What are you feeding in this season of your life?
For me, one of the earliest stages was feeding fear and frustration.
In my younger years, fear often kept me from taking risks. I avoided opportunities because I worried about failure, rejection, or uncertainty. When life became difficult, frustration would quickly take over. Looking back, I realize that feeding those emotions limited my growth and prevented me from reaching my full potential.
Sometimes I wonder how different my path might have been if I had chosen to feed courage instead of fear, possibility instead of doubt.
Where in your life are you playing it safe?
Are you feeding your fears, or are you feeding something more productive and empowering?
As I gradually moved beyond that stage, my perspective began to change. There comes a point in life when we feel exhausted, discouraged, or tempted to give up. Ironically, that is often when faith begins to appear.
When we feel like we have nothing left to give, we start looking beyond our fears and frustrations. We begin to sense something pulling us forward—whether it is a higher power, a deeper purpose, or simply an evolution of our mindset.
We start believing in ourselves.
We recognize our abilities.
We trust that we are capable of more.
Instead of feeding fear, we begin feeding possibility.
This is where growth accelerates. We stop focusing on what could go wrong and begin focusing on what could go right. We take action. We learn. We stretch ourselves. We discover strengths we never knew we possessed.
Eventually, we reach another stage.
After feeding possibility long enough, we begin to uncover what truly brings us fulfillment. We discover our passions. We identify what gives us energy, purpose, and joy. Rather than simply surviving, we begin intentionally creating a life that reflects who we are and what matters most.
This is where purpose lives.
We have weathered the storms. We have overcome fear and frustration. We have developed faith in ourselves and confidence in our abilities. Now, we are pursuing the things that bring meaning to our lives and allow us to contribute to others.
That is a powerful place to be.
As you reflect on your own journey, consider these questions:
What fears are you feeding today?
How can you begin feeding the possibility that you might succeed, grow, or achieve more?
What could you invest your energy into that would bring greater purpose and joy to your life?
It takes time to understand what we are feeding and allowing to grow within us. Growth is rarely a straight line. Most of us have experienced seasons of fear, frustration, possibility, and purpose. The goal is not perfection. The goal is awareness.
When we become intentional about what we feed, we become intentional about who we are becoming.
Without a doubt, you have experienced each of these stages in your own way. The question is: What are you feeding right now?
If you would like to explore this concept more deeply and discover what may be holding you back from your next stage of growth, I would love to help. Reach out to learn more about one-on-one coaching opportunities.
Have a great week!
~ Steve Bucks
