Outgrown

Outgrown. 

When I think about outgrowing something my high school drill team uniform and prom dress come to mind. Something that once fit, but no longer does.  

However, this idea of outgrowing doesn't just have to revolve around your wardrobe. Are their old beliefs you have about yourself that no longer ring true?  Perhaps you have outgrown your past insecurities, and should not allow them to hang around like an old stretched out sweater. 

Sometimes you can't see past these limiting beliefs because they once played such an important role in how you defined yourself. Allowing something you have outgrown to linger prevents you from moving on to something else. 

Elizabeth Berg in her novel Tapestry of Fortune reminds us of this when she writes, "Otherwise, you'll stay in the place you've outgrown." Now this place can be a physical place, but more importantly it might be a state of mind. We may remain too long in either just because of familiarity.

For years each time I entered a bookstore or library I would head to the self-help section looking for that "perfect" book that would change my life. I must have read hundreds of books over the years, and to be honest, I can't tell you that any one of them really made that big of a difference. 

What I've found today is that I've outgrown the self-help section. Experience and self-reflection have allowed me to feel comfortable with the person I am. Clinging to the old patterns of always looking for self-help is no longer something I need to do. 

Perhaps you have been guilty of staying too long in a job or in a home, even though you knew it was time to move on. This may be due to the fact that you have outgrown them, and would benefit from the challenge of the next new experience. Except, often times we refuse to make this change out of fear of the unknown. 

It's probably not a bad idea to periodically assess what you have been holding onto, and allowing yourself to shed the things you've outgrown. Just like cleaning out your closet can result in a wardrobe of clothes that fit and flatter, a life filled with beliefs and actions that fit can make for a more fulfilling life.