Grateful for Today, Growing Toward Tomorrow

A few clarifications from today’s episode:

• The saying “The glory of God is man fully alive” is commonly attributed to Irenaeus, rather than Ignatius.
• The familiar four stages of learning are unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, and unconscious competence. My bookcase wording differs from that sequence.
• My description of the Judds’ success happening within a month was an impression of how quickly their rise seemed to happen, rather than a verified timeline.
• When discussing how hurt can hinder growth, my intended point was that painful experiences can make us hesitant to try again. People do not choose or deserve the harm done to them.

Thank you for allowing me to keep learning alongside you.

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Can we enjoy where we are while remaining hungry to grow?

In this episode of The Kingdom Corner Reading Room, we conclude character dimension five—being oriented toward increase—in Henry Cloud’s Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality.

Growth asks us to become beginners again, attempt things beyond our present abilities, and learn through practice. It also requires gratitude and rest. We need time to appreciate what we’ve accomplished and replenish our energy for what comes next.

Through stories from Cloud’s book and reflections on leadership, marriage, teaching, and learning to edit this podcast, we explore how growth becomes an expression of character—and how investing in others connects growth with legacy.

In this episode:

• Balancing gratitude for today with a desire to grow.
• Accepting the awkwardness of learning something new.
• Growing into unfamiliar responsibilities.
• Having drive while making room for rest.
• Deepening our understanding through teaching and sharing.
• Developing people as an expression of character.
• Giving attention to our relational, spiritual, and intellectual growth alongside professional success.

Questions for reflection:

1. Can I appreciate where I am while remaining hungry to grow?
2. Where am I willing to become a beginner again?
3. What discomfort have I learned to tolerate because changing feels harder?
4. What is my “why” for growing—and is it deeper than greater success?
5. Who benefits from what I’m learning? Who am I intentionally helping develop?
6. Is there an area of my life that needs attention even though another area looks successful?

A thought to carry with you:

Growth and legacy meet when what we become helps others become more.

Join us next time as we begin the sixth and final character dimension: being oriented toward transcendence.