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.

看待成长有两种基本态度：一种视其为结果，一种视其为过程。人们通常视个人成长为容易被识别和衡量的一种外在结果或成果。工人得到升迁、学生成绩提高和外国人学会了一门新的语言——这些都可以表明人们付出努力之后，取得了可测定的成绩。

相比之下，测定个人成长的过程却要艰难得多。因为从定义来看，它是一段旅程，而不是沿途特定的路标或标志物。成长过程不是道路本身，而是当遭遇新的情况或未预料到的坎坷时所持的态度和情感，是慎重行事还是勇往直前。在这个过程中，旅行永远不会真正结束；总是有新的方法来感受世界，总会尝试新思想，接受新挑战。

为了成长，为了探索新路，人们需要乐意去冒险，去勇敢面对未知事物，去接受他们也许会一开始就“失败”的可能性。当我们尝试一种新的生存方式时，我们如何看待自己对我们的成长能力至关重要。我们认为自己快捷、有好奇心吗？如果是的话，那我们往往会抓住更多的机会，更愿意去体验不熟悉的事情。我们认为自己腼腆、优柔寡断吗？那我们的羞怯感会使我们犹豫不决、行动缓慢，不到万无一失绝不迈步。我们认为自己适应变化很慢且对付新挑战也不够机敏吗？那么我们极可能会处事较被动或者根本放弃尝试。

我们若想改变自己、有所成长，这些不安全感和自我怀疑感既无法避免也很有必要。如果我们不去面对并克服这些内心的恐惧和疑惑，如果我们过多地保护自己，那我们就一定会停止成长。我们会陷进自己营造的壳里面。

——来自1995考研英语text2