Growth, as it is said, comes with a lot of sacrifice and some inevitable changes. This is why most times it’s somehow difficult for some people to grow. They actually prefer the way they are and enjoy the stagnancy in their lives. We can't blame them. You can say their practice is what’s telling them.
On my end, I have always enjoyed growth and progress, and I actually knew there would be a lot to be sacrificed along the way. I knew if I wanted growth, my life wouldn’t be the same. But that’s life for us.
It's left for me to narrow down how I won't be so much affected by the choices I have made. If there are other ways of life that I can adopt that will complement those choices I made, then I think it's best to go for it. I knew living in luxury was out of that choice; a normal lifestyle with some touch of minimalism is still okay to adopt, but living below standard is actually not a choice.
I have got a lot of people challenging me about my way of life, even down to my close friends and immediate family. They sometimes wonder why I just have to live and feel comfortable with the choices I have made.
When I went for my National Youth Service in the eastern part of the country. I was posted to Ebonyi state, and my friend was posted to Enugu state. These two states border each other. While we went camping, my friend would always rant and complain about how inconvenient it was in the environment. I even thought he won’t redeploy, so I can check up on him, and we both explore each other’s state.
Our camping session wasn’t over; he had already applied to be redeployed to Ilorin, the state where we completed our tertiary studies. I was like, Why do you feel so uncomfortable elsewhere but always comfortable in your comfort zones. If you don't leave that zone, there is no way you will achieve growth.
He challenged me in return, saying that he has always wondered how I am able to adjust to every situation I find myself in. He never heard me complain bitterly about something, but I will rather find a way to get a solution to it. He reminded me of a time we were posted to a village for our Internship Training. He wondered how I was able to adjust my lifestyle so quickly and endure all through the days we spent there.
So I won't redeploy?? I was so certain about my decisions. He had to acknowledge my bravery and smartness at the end of our service year. To date, he has always felt surprised by how I have always lived and felt comfort in any condition I find myself in. I don't know how to explain how I tried to practice being a minimalist to him.
Recently, he got a job in Lagos, and he had to leave his comfort zone. Living in Lagos is so expensive; now the challenge is how he is going to adjust. Will he live higher than his standard or practice minimalism? He went beyond his capacity. And in the end, he still rants every day about his choices.
Reasons behind my growth
I have learned to let go of invaluables in my life. I actually don't mind what it takes to omit some things and travel light. This had made it easier to live freely amidst inconveniences and also made a path towards constant growth for me.
The more I have explored the more I learn, the more I learn, the more I give less meaning to some things. I have also tried to let go of a lot of relationships with people. The lesser it becomes, the better it gets. Having too much or excess most of the time ends up as a burden that hinders progress.
You don't have to fall too low below standard. But live freely within your standard.
