Doreetha Daniels has lived through some of the greatest moments in history.  She witnessed the end of World War I and II, the first man in space, and the birth of electricity, the invention of the telephone, the television, and the rise of the digital age. But Daniels says that the most gratifying moment of her life was the day that she graduated from college. Daniels stated that she wanted to better herself. But the road to becoming a college graduate was full of personal difficulties. For starters, she was 93 years old when she registered at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. She also had her driver’s license revoked because of her diminishing sight and hearing due to multiple strokes. Daniels also struggled with college level math and statistics, so she became a regular at the Tutoring and Learning Center. But Daniels never stopped intentionally growing. In the summer of 2015 at 99 years of age Daniels became the oldest student to graduate from college.

Intentional Growth is a lifelong process of waking up every day and going as far as you can possibly go. If you want become your very best you’ll have to give growth your very best.

Start today – The greatest obstacle to intentional growth is the idea that you’ll get to it later. To wish for growth is of no practical value, it’s when you intentionally work at it that you’ll gain profit.

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. – Proverbs 14:23 NIV

 Face the fears that hinder your growth – I’m not suggesting that you face all your fears. For example, if you have a fear of rats, I would not suggest that you get into a room full of them. Actually, I would call an exterminator and stay as far away as possible. But intentional growth may require that you face your fears. Perhaps your fear of failure, maybe your fear of exchanging security for the unknown, maybe it’s the fear of the cost of growth, or maybe it’s the fear of what others might think of you. Intentional growth will cause you to face your fears before you can move on.

Zachariah was paralyzed in fear. But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. – Luke 1:12-13 MSG

Sometimes, like with Zachariah intentional growth will require you to surround yourself with people who will reassure you and help you face your fears.