There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process.
People have generally viewed personal growth as an external result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language—all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.

By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they encounter new experiences and unexpected obstacles. In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.

In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to confront the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow. Do we perceive ourselves as quick and curious? If so, then we tend to take more chances and to be more open to unfamiliar experiences. Do we think we're shy and indecisive? Then our sense of timidity can cause us to hesitate, to move slowly, and not to take a step until we know the ground is safe. Do we think we’re slow to adapt to change or that we’re not smart enough to cope with a new challenge? Then we are likely to take a more passive role or not try at all.

These feelings of insecurity and self-doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not confront and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.

看待成長有兩種基本態(tài)度：一種視其為結果拜秧，一種視其為過程。人們通常視個人成長為容易被識別和衡量的一種外在結果或成果。工人得到升遷、學生成績提高和外國人學會了一門新的語言——這些都可以表明人們付出努力之后畜埋，取得了可測定的成績。

相比之下项秉，測定個人成長的過程卻要艱難得多稚机。因為從定義來看，它是一段旅程侮繁，而不是沿途特定的路標或標志物虑粥。成長過程不是道路本身，而是當遭遇新的情況或未預料到的坎坷時所持的態(tài)度和情感宪哩，是慎重行事還是勇往直前娩贷。在這個過程中，旅行永遠不會真正結束锁孟；總是有新的方法來感受世界彬祖，總會嘗試新思想，接受新挑戰(zhàn)品抽。

為了成長储笑，為了探索新路，人們需要樂意去冒險圆恤，去勇敢面對未知事物突倍，去接受他們也許會一開始就“失敗”的可能性。當我們嘗試一種新的生存方式時盆昙，我們?nèi)绾慰创约簩ξ覀兊某砷L能力至關重要羽历。我們認為自己快捷、有好奇心嗎淡喜？如果是的話秕磷，那我們往往會抓住更多的機會，更愿意去體驗不熟悉的事情炼团。我們認為自己靦腆澎嚣、優(yōu)柔寡斷嗎？那我們的羞怯感會使我們猶豫不決们镜、行動緩慢，不到萬無一失絕不邁步润歉。我們認為自己適應變化很慢且對付新挑戰(zhàn)也不夠機敏嗎模狭？那么我們極可能會處事較被動或者根本放棄嘗試。

我們?nèi)粝敫淖冏约翰锐谩⒂兴砷L嚼鹉，這些不安全感和自我懷疑感既無法避免也很有必要贩汉。如果我們不去面對并克服這些內(nèi)心的恐懼和疑惑，如果我們過多地保護自己锚赤，那我們就一定會停止成長匹舞。我們會陷進自己營造的殼里面。

——來自1995考研英語text2