GROWTH IS NOT LINEAR

Summary

Proud Mace discusses the non-linear nature of personal growth, emphasizing that development is complex and involves incremental steps rather than a straightforward path. He highlights the importance of consistency over motivation, suggesting that small, regular efforts are more effective than sporadic, intense ones. Mace also touches on the neurological benefits of consistency, like the strengthening of neural pathways, and encourages viewers to embrace their own pace of learning and self-awareness, rather than comparing themselves to others' perceived linear success.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Growth is not a linear process; it involves complex and incremental steps with no straightforward path to success.
• 🎯 Success in any endeavor is not achieved by doing one specific thing but by engaging in a series of small, specific actions towards a goal.
• 🔄 The concept of 'one step forward, one step back' reflects the dualistic nature of growth, where learning often involves unlearning or refining previous understanding.
• 🤹‍♂️ Creativity and personal development require awareness of the full dimensionality of understanding, including both what you like and dislike.
• 🏋️‍♀️ Pursuing success, such as in fitness, involves considering both enjoyable and less enjoyable aspects, acknowledging the highs and lows of the journey.
• 🔄 Understanding involves not just gaining knowledge but also recognizing what you don't know or what to avoid.
• 🧠 Consistency in small efforts is more impactful for growth than sporadic large efforts, as it helps to build neural pathways in the brain.
• 💡 Being aware of one's own ignorance is crucial for learning and growth, as it opens the door to new understanding and education.
• 🚶‍♂️ Growth often involves stepping into new territory, which can be both exciting and challenging, requiring adaptation and new learning.
• 🧩 Success can sometimes appear linear due to luck or circumstances, but it's important to recognize the unseen struggles and complexities behind it.
• 💡 Personal development is a deeply individual process that should be tailored to what works best for the individual, rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by 'growth is not linear'?

The speaker means that personal development or success in any endeavor does not follow a simple, direct path. It involves complex processes, understanding multiple aspects of a subject, and often involves taking steps forward and backward.

What is the importance of doing 'small specific things' according to the speaker?

The importance lies in the incremental progress these small actions create towards a specific goal. They contribute to a broader understanding and skill development, rather than expecting immediate or large leaps in growth.

How does the speaker relate the concept of growth to Buddhist philosophy?

The speaker refers to the Buddhist concept of dualism, where every action has an opposite. In the context of growth, this means that even when gaining knowledge or skills, one may also become aware of what they do not know or understand.

What does the speaker suggest about the relationship between understanding and ignorance?

The speaker suggests that understanding and ignorance are two sides of the same coin. Gaining knowledge in one area can illuminate what one does not know in another, and being aware of this ignorance is crucial for further learning and growth.

How does the speaker view the role of consistency in personal development?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of consistency over motivation. Consistent, even small, efforts are more impactful for neurological development and long-term success than sporadic, intense bursts of activity.

What is the significance of the 'one step forward, one step back' metaphor used by the speaker?

This metaphor signifies the idea that progress is not always straightforward. Each step forward can involve revisiting previous knowledge or skills, reassessing, and integrating new understanding, which can feel like taking a step back.

Why does the speaker argue that small, consistent wins are more effective than large leaps?

Small, consistent wins build a solid foundation of understanding and skill, making further learning more fluid and less effortful. Large leaps can lead to overwhelm and disappointment if the foundational knowledge or skills are not solid.

What does the speaker mean by the 'dark side of ignorance'?

The 'dark side of ignorance' refers to the aspects of oneself that are not aware or educated in certain areas. Being aware of this ignorance is the first step towards addressing it and growing in understanding.

How does the speaker connect the idea of growth to the physical structure of the brain?

The speaker explains that consistent effort strengthens the neural pathways in the brain, making the practice of new skills more efficient and ingrained over time, which is a literal neurological process of growth.

What advice does the speaker give for starting a new learning process?

The speaker advises against jumping into complex tasks without first mastering the basics. Starting with small, manageable tasks and building up gradually is a more effective and less discouraging approach to learning.

Why is it important to understand what works for the individual, according to the speaker?

Understanding what works for the individual is crucial because it allows for a personalized approach to growth and development. It acknowledges that not all methods suit everyone and that self-awareness is key to finding the most effective path.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Embracing Non-Linear Growth

The speaker, Proud Mace, discusses the concept of non-linear growth, emphasizing that personal development is not a straightforward path. They highlight the importance of understanding the complexity of growth, which involves incremental steps towards a specific goal. The speaker uses various examples, such as art, music, and writing, to illustrate that growth comes from a multitude of small, purposeful actions rather than a single defining act. They also introduce the idea of dualism in growth, suggesting that every step forward may also involve a step back, reflecting on the Buddhist philosophy of opposites. The speaker encourages embracing the complexities and being aware of both the known and the unknown aspects of one's growth journey.

05:01

🔄 The Dual Nature of Growth and Consistency

In this paragraph, Proud Mace delves deeper into the dualistic nature of growth, explaining that every gain comes with a corresponding loss. They use the metaphor of crafting sculptures to illustrate how understanding what to do also involves understanding what not to do. The speaker emphasizes the importance of consistency over motivation, arguing that small, consistent steps are more effective for neurological development than sporadic, intense efforts. They explain that the brain's neural pathways become more efficient with consistent practice, leading to a deeper and more fluid understanding of the skills being developed. The speaker advises against attempting large leaps in growth without a solid foundation, using the metaphor of building with Legos to illustrate the importance of starting small and building up gradually.

10:04

🎯 The Power of Small Wins and Self-Awareness

Proud Mace continues the discussion on growth by focusing on the power of small, consistent wins and the importance of self-awareness. They argue against the mainstream idea of putting in long hours of hard work, suggesting that it can lead to fatigue and distraction. Instead, the speaker advocates for understanding one's own working style and finding a balance that allows for consistent effort without burnout. They share personal insights on how shorter, more focused practice sessions can lead to greater progress and enjoyment in learning a skill, such as playing a musical instrument. The speaker encourages viewers to be open to learning from failures and to use them as opportunities for growth and self-improvement.

15:04

🚀 Starting from Readiness and Personalized Growth

In the final paragraph, Proud Mace wraps up the discussion by stressing the importance of starting one's growth journey from a place of readiness rather than a place of desire. They encourage individuals to pursue their goals based on what they think they know and to disregard external opinions if they contradict one's personal growth process. The speaker likens the growth process to a cobweb of dots that one connects over time, suggesting that it is a unique and personal journey. They remind viewers that growth is not about knowing everything but about doing what makes sense to them and what they believe will lead to progress. The speaker signs off with a message of hope for anyone pursuing personal development, whether in creativity, career, or spirituality.

Keywords

💡Growth

Growth in the context of the video refers to personal development or self-improvement in any endeavor. The video emphasizes that growth is not a linear process but involves a complex interplay of small, incremental steps towards a specific goal. An example from the script is the idea that growth is not achieved by doing one specific thing but through a series of small, targeted actions.

💡Linear

Linear suggests a straightforward, one-dimensional progression. The video argues against the concept of linear growth, stating that development in any field is not a simple, direct path but involves complexities and setbacks. The script uses the term to contrast the common misconception of a direct route to success with the reality of a more complex journey.

💡Complexity

Complexity is highlighted as an inherent aspect of the growth process. It implies that there are multiple factors and variables at play, making the path to development intricate and not easily predictable. The video script mentions being 'aware of the complexities of different things that allow you to grow,' indicating the need to understand various elements that contribute to personal development.

💡Dualism

Dualism in the video script refers to the concept of understanding both the positive and negative aspects of growth. It is the idea that for every step forward, there might be a corresponding step backward, reflecting the Buddhist philosophy mentioned. An example is the notion that gaining an understanding in one area also involves recognizing what not to do.

💡Consistency

Consistency is portrayed as a crucial factor for growth. It is the practice of persistently working towards a goal, even in small increments, rather than making sporadic large efforts. The video emphasizes that 'small steps towards consistency are more important than the large leaps and bounds towards your goals,' suggesting that regular, ongoing effort is more effective than occasional intense bursts of activity.

💡Neurological Process

The video script touches on the neurological aspect of learning and growth, explaining how consistent practice can lead to the strengthening of neural pathways in the brain. It mentions the 'milin sheath' (likely a mispronunciation of myelin sheath), which is a protective covering that allows for efficient signal transmission between neurons, thus making learned behaviors more automatic and 'fluid' over time.

💡Ignorance

Ignorance in the video is not just a lack of knowledge but also a potential catalyst for growth. It is the recognition of what one does not know, which can motivate the pursuit of understanding. The script states, 'if you're not aware of your own ignorance you can't get rid of it,' emphasizing the importance of self-awareness as a first step towards learning and development.

💡Small Wins

Small wins are the incremental successes that come from consistent effort. The video script suggests that these small victories are more valuable than large, sporadic achievements because they build a foundation for long-term growth. It contrasts the idea of 'small wins' with the pressure to make 'large leaps and bounds,' advocating for a steady and sustainable approach to development.

💡Foundation

A foundation in the context of the video is the base of knowledge and understanding necessary for building more complex skills or ideas. It is likened to the initial Lego pieces that must be securely placed before adding larger pieces. The script warns against trying to achieve too much too quickly without establishing a solid foundation, as this can lead to instability and disappointment.

💡Ego

Ego in the video is presented as a potential obstacle to growth. It is the self-centered belief in one's own abilities without acknowledging the need for consistent learning and practice. The script cautions against starting from a place of ego, suggesting that self-belief should be grounded in education and understanding rather than mere desire or vanity.

💡Awareness

Awareness is the recognition and understanding of one's own abilities, limitations, and the process of growth. The video script encourages being aware of the 'side of yourself that isn't exactly super creative' or 'hyper intelligent,' suggesting that self-awareness is essential for identifying areas of improvement and fostering genuine development.

Highlights

Growth is not a linear process; it involves complex and incremental steps.

There is no straightforward path to self-development in any endeavor.

Growth occurs through a combination of small, specific actions towards a goal.

The Buddhist philosophy of 'one step forward, one step back' is applied to learning and understanding.

Understanding involves recognizing both what you know and what you don't know.

Dualism in growth means recognizing gains and losses as part of the learning process.

Consistency is more important than motivation for achieving long-term goals.

Small, consistent steps are more effective than sporadic large efforts.

Neurological processes support the idea that consistent practice leads to more efficient learning.

The importance of starting from where you are ready, not where you want to be.

The growth process is like connecting dots in a cobweb, not following a step-by-step guide.

Success often involves unseen struggles and circumstances.

The value of being aware of one's own ignorance as a path to learning and growth.

The concept of starting with self-belief but finishing with education and understanding.

The idea that growth involves both the light and dark sides of experiences.

The necessity of embracing failure as a part of the learning process.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of doing what works for the individual, rather than following others' advice blindly.

The talk concludes with a reminder that growth is personal and should be based on individual readiness and understanding.

Transcripts

hi proud mace here and today I'm going

to be talking about how growth is not

linear well by that I mean that there is

no simple process to developing yourself

in any Endeavor that you do in any

Endeavor that I have ever pursued

there's never been a straightforward

path there have been principles and

practices and exercises that are you

know based upon small incremental

growths but there's never been a way of

saying if you do this that in the third

you will be successful at whatever it is

you're doing whether it was Art whether

it was music whether it was writing

whether was any sort of thing that I

ever wanted to do in my you know Years

of

Living you always have to go about it in

a complex way simply and what I mean by

that is that you have to be aware of the

complexities of different things that

allow you to grow and not think that if

you do one specific thing that's how you

grow you don't grow by doing one

specific thing you grow by doing a bunch

of small specific things for a very

specific goal and that goal can be small

or large but doesn't matter as long as

you do or you're doing the small things

to get towards that goal that you're

pursuing now you know one step forward

is actually one step back and that's

sort of a Buddhist philosophy in that

like everything that you do has its

opposite so even once you learn how to

do something you begin to understand

that there are things that you don't

learn so that dualistic and idea of like

you know there's a double side to

everything even once you gain something

you also lose something when a person

understands and a concept of say you

know crafting uh sculptures they

understand that this is how you do it

but then they understand what not to do

so in any understanding that I think a

person pursues they also have have to

take into consideration the full

dimensionality of their understanding

and that there's not just one aspect of

what you understand but different

aspects of the same thing if I'm making

music and I find that I like a certain

sound that sound that I like cuts out

sounds that I don't like if I'm drawing

and I find that I like that I like

drawing certain things that thing that I

like cuts out things I don't like

drawing so it's you know a dualistic

idea that isn't exactly uh a bad thing

but it's just something I think should

be uh more discussed and aware of I

think as creatives and just people that

you know pursue careers passionately

there has to be a consideration of the

dualism involved in you know doing

something that you really want if a

person really wants to be successful at

working out they have to take in

consideration the aspect of working out

that is fun and the aspect that isn't

Fun and it's not to say that like oh I

got to you know try to you know take the

hard route and be really tough and grind

my teeth and go through the hard

trenches or whatever like you don't have

to like be all like tough tough like you

just have to take in consideration that

there going to be lows and highs that

there are going to be es and flows to

everything that you do you know one step

forward is one step backwards meaning

that once you take a step forward you're

also taking a step backwards because

there's an aspect of you that you

are going back or you're you're you're

starting from square one like if I go

to um you know if I if I'm going on a

road right it's funny I use metaphors a

lot but if I'm walking on the road and I

take a a a a step on a yellow brick to a

green brick once I leave the yellow

brick I've left the yellow brick I've

succeeded in leaving the yellow brick

but now I'm on the green brick so now

I'm in a new place so it's like I'm I'm

almost in a sense like reborn because

I'm starting in a new place I'm starting

an un Uncharted Territory so I'm not

really

completely understanding what's going on

so I'm I'm a bit of myself is lost a bit

of myself isn't there so I have to be

aware of that aspect of you know the

dark side of my ignorance or the side of

me that isn't understanding something

and I think in creativity it's really

important to be aware of the self that

isn't aware you know to to be aware of

the side of yourself that isn't exactly

Super Creative or it might not be hyper

intelligent or always thinking uh in

Practical and uh you know educated ways

but to be aware of that because that is

where you learn if you're not aware of

your own ignorance you can't get rid of

it so like if a person's stupid or a

person doesn't know that math exists

then they're never going to get rid of

their ignorance of math they're never

going to know that math exists as long

as they don't know that it exists but

then once they are aware that something

exists that they didn't know was there

they now are enlightened and they can

you know maneuver through that realm uh

more educated in a more educated way so

you know growth is not the near and you

don't

always succeed in every step you make

sometimes when you take a step forward

you're really taking a step back because

you're taking a step back in maybe a

failure you're taking Tak a step back

and being aware of your past uh you know

losses or failures or ways in which you

know you're just not successful yet and

you're taking a step backwards like that

is a way of growing it's like I said

growth is not linear it is not one

single line going upwards all the way up

it is more so like a jagged line like

teeth but in an upward way that isn't

exactly um perceived in the process of

pursuing it in the process of wanting to

become successful in anything a person

does it is most often not linear I think

in very rare cases where people have um

extreme I would like to call you know

some people I know don't believe in luck

extreme cases of luck or happen stance

that just are in their favor whether

it's just nature nurture or just

circumstances yes there are cases where

their growth seems linear but there's an

aspect that you know not every person

sees

there's like I said a dark side to every

single you know light side if you see a

person as successful there's probably a

lot of different things you don't see

that don't seem like things that a

successful would have successful person

would have experienced like say for

instance if you think of her successful

oh they did this that the third they

overcame all their problems and they got

through everything and it's like oh

they're the great but you might not have

seen that there were people who helped

them or that there was support or that

there was uh econ omal reasons for why

they're where they're at that didn't

really have much to do with what they

did but just had to do with certain

circumstances that they were born into

or placed around or happened to be

within the bounds of so that they kind

of just you know bounced into the right

place at the right time so you don't

always see every aspect of uh you know a

successful person you don't see every

aspect of just a regular person there

are people that you see on the street

and you might see them and perceive them

to be one way but there are aspects of

them that you don't see and that you

probably never will see you might not

want to see you know so in the idea of

growth one step forward is one step

backwards and consistency you know in

consistency of doing something for the

sake of growth and development and

whatever it is you're pursuing is hyper

important you know it's more important

than being motivated even when you're

not motivated small steps towards

consistency are more important than the

large Leaps and Bounds towards your

goals because the small steps of

registering your mind that the thing

you're pursuing is important more than

trying to do it hyper you know

strenuously in a single moment or a

single circumstance like oh I'm going to

work and study real hard right now in

this very moment in this hour I'm going

to study so hard and become the best

educated person I don't know neurosci

Neuroscience or something it's like that

is not how you register in your brain

that this is something important you

want to succeed at how you register in

your brain is by consistently sending

messages to your brain cells that this

is something that we are doing if the

brain you know I'm not sure if most

people know this but the brain is made

up of neurons and in the cerebral um

cortex of the brain which is the part

that has a lot of neurons in it um

neurons fire right and they send signals

to each other and there's something

inside neurons called a milin sheath and

this milin sheath is what basically you

can consider is a Highway for electron

electric Communications between neurons

and your brain and when these milein

sheeps or these highways in your brain

are thickened through consistent effort

and consistent um you know registering

information and messages consistently

then after a certain point they become

thick and they become

more imprinted onto your brain and into

your thought so that when you do it when

you practice the things that are being

registered inside your neurons in your

brain they become easier they become

more fluid they become less excessive in

movement and unnecessary thought and

more consistent and fluid so I think

consistency is not just a idea or a

philosophy to practice but it is

literally a neurological process when

you are practicing something

consistently and even in small efforts

it is more powerful to you becoming

successful and great at the thing you're

doing than it is for you to be trying to

do hard heavy loud big steps towards a

goal like if you're if you're trying to

learn something don't jump into the deep

end you'll just get yourself in over

your head and then you'll be

disappointed because you realize how un

you know unsuccessful and uneducated you

are and how un untrained you are in a

certain field don't go into the deep end

when you haven't learned how to swim in

shallow water that is not how you start

if you start that way you will be very

disappointed by your efforts because

your efforts will be made in vain

literally in vain because you're doing

it out of vanity of you know your ego

being like Oh I can do this I can

succeed at this I'm great you I I can do

this easily and that you know that is

not a great place to come from when

you're trying to learn and in fact I

believe that that's not a place that a

person trying to learn can even come

from because when you're trying to learn

you're open and when you're open you're

willing to accept the small wins because

you know that they will add up in order

to get to the big win the big

achievement the big boss the big thing

you know if you think of Legos Legos are

like building blocks and that is sort of

like habits and and being consistent is

like you want to build the small Legos

in order to get a giant structure and

that structure can be complex after

you've already established the

foundation of the small Legos but if you

try to take a giant piece of Lego and

put it on top of a small piece of Lego

it's going to fall over

it's not going to be able to withstand

the weight because you know it doesn't

have a solid foundation the foundation

isn't based off of education and

understanding is based off of vanity and

you know an egoic idea of I can do

whatever I want to do because I think I

can and I want to and that's not a bad

place to be but it should be based that

that's you know it's good to be have

self-belief in yourself but it's not

good to have that self-belief be based

off of like

a very small sense of self when you say

that I'm great and I'm I'm educated I'm

I'm the best at this I'm going to like

you know take over I'm going to achieve

everything I want to I'm going to be the

best that's a good place to start but

that's not a good place to finish

because you can't finish from a place

like that you have to finish from a

place of Education understanding and

knowing where you stand as far as your

your development you know so growing is

not a linear process you take one step

forward you might also take a step

backward and not might also you will

definitely because that's what failure

does it teaches you that you know you

don't know you don't understand you

don't see you don't have the education

yet but then it doesn't just say that to

you but that is a pointer towards where

you can know where you can understand

where you can get the education from and

consistently being in that process of

the small wins of the small consistent

uh efforts of the small steps is where

you actually begin to see progress if

I'm practicing piano consistently 5

minutes a day or I'm practicing guitar

consistently 5 minutes a day I'm going

to make more consistent progress because

I will be enjoying it more and I will be

more involved in it because it's a small

effort for a small period of time so I

can put more effort into it I will get

more out of it than say if I were to

invest an hour or two hours or 3 hours

even though you know in popular

mainstream media it's told that you have

to put all this effort into you know

working this long and this hard and this

much and that's an idea and a concept

philosophy whatever you want to call it

but even though that's something that's

heavily you know propagated to people

it's not it's necessarily something that

actually works at least I know for me

you know if I'm trying to work hard for

long periods after a certain point I get

tired you know it's a degree of fatigue

that comes over me and I start to

distract myself with my phone or my

computer or music or looking at

something else or thinking about other

things so I have to come from a place of

you know understanding of how I work and

how I operate and if I realize that

getting small wins consistently you know

and failing every once in a while allows

me to understand more and to see how I

can grow that's the best place for me to

go from you know I have to understand

what works for me and I have to be

willing to start where I think I'm ready

to start from and not where I want to

start from where I ready to start from

and go off from there so you know I just

wanted to talk about this as far as

growing uh and developing yourself and

anything you do I think uh it's very

important to not look at the growth

process as theer as a you know

stepbystep process it's not step by step

it's more like a cobweb of dots that you

begin to connect as you begin to go on

your journey of understanding how to

grow you know nobody really knows what

they're doing but they're doing what

they think they know and that's the best

that's the most important thing it's not

about knowing what you're doing it's

about doing what you think you know and

in some cases for some people doing what

you don't think you know or doing things

you don't understand is you know a

probably more complex way of going about

it but either way as long as you are

doing things that you think you know and

that makes sense to you and you're

getting development and you're

progressing then don't take into

consideration anything anybody else says

if my talk or what I'm saying

contradicts what works for you don't do

it it's about you and it's about what

works for you and it's about where you

are ready to start from so I hope this

video was helpful for anyone who is a

creative or a person pursuing a career

or whatever it is you're doing even even

if it's just spirituality or whatever

hope this video was helpful this is PR

ma signing off

peace