One of the amazing things about being a growth coach is the ability to meet people from all different walks of life, some being cutthroat and others being laid back. I recently had a client that was a member of my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In our discussions, the problem I needed to help them with was overcoming fear of the unknown.
My client a situation where there was an individual in which they had to work with but was a very difficult individual to deal with and they indicated that there were some hot conversations and management had to get called in and iron out some strong disagreements. The question to me was how I forgive someone and be able to accept whether they give me an apology or not. My client feared the fear aspect and could not escape from the negative energy.
As a proponent of fear, I always welcome it because failure allows us to refine ourselves, it allows us to gain a better understanding of how we can take it and create new goals to overcome past failure. In my last article, I talked about how to Treat Failure with Empathy.
Yet, for this topic, I felt with our religious connection, the Book of Mormon might offer some additional insight into how we can overcome the fear of forgiveness and repent our negative actions. Through repentance we can overcome obstacles and achieve happiness and joy.
If we look at Alma 36:19, it reads “And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.”
Alma 36:19 from the Book of Mormon can be related to the concept of a growth mindset, which is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. Here’s how Alma 36:19 can be connected to a growth mindset:
Alma 36:19, Alma the Younger describes a significant transformation in his life. He goes from a state of deep anguish and suffering due to his past sins to a point where he can “remember [his] pains no more.” This transformation reflects the idea that individuals can change and grow, not just in their actions but also in their emotional and spiritual well-being. It suggests that personal growth and change are possible, even after making mistakes or experiencing setbacks.
Alma’s past actions, which caused him pain and sorrow, represent his failures and mistakes. His journey toward repentance and spiritual renewal exemplifies the concept of learning from failure. In a growth mindset, failures are seen as opportunities for learning and improvement. Alma’s story highlights the potential for personal growth and positive change that can emerge from acknowledging one’s past mistakes.
Alma’s ability to overcome his past and find peace speaks to the resilience and perseverance associated with a growth mindset. He didn’t let his failures define him but instead used them as a catalyst for change. This aligns with the idea that setbacks and challenges can be seen as steppingstones toward personal and spiritual growth.
A growth mindset encourages individuals to embrace challenges rather than avoid them. Alma faced the challenge of his past sins and confronted them with humility and repentance. His willingness to confront and address his mistakes exemplifies the idea that challenges can lead to personal development.
Thus, Alma 36:19 can be seen as a testament to the transformative power of a growth mindset. It shows that individuals can learn, grow, and change, even in the face of failures and setbacks, by embracing challenges, learning from their experiences, and persevering on a path of personal development.
As my client and I embraced Alma, it shows us that when we are wrong, and we find ourselves in situations that result in negativity and allow ourselves to create change and work through our fears, we can drive new opportunities and outcomes by knowing what prevented us from succeeding. We worked on some goals to foster growth and through this experience, my client was able to build trust in a colleague and take the team’s effort to a new level.
If you are interested in fulfilling your dreams, goals, and life, but have challenges, Bradley Trede is accepting weekend appointments for attaining change through the growth mindset. If interested, please contact him or sign up for one of his coaching sessions.