The Demands of Growth

I have this friend who’s always full of ideas.  

She has incredible drive and the good sense to take these ideas to action and I’m always looking forward to our catch ups. The kind of dream-chasing friend I think everyone needs in their life - to remind us all that anything is possible.  

Rewind a couple of months and I picked up a call from her.  She’s been busy behind the scenes running her own business for a couple of decades and recently she’s begun to pivot in a new direction, one that requires a whole lot more showing up as just…herself.  

Audibly torn between the crossroads of her choices, she expressed that she wanted to remain true to herself but also to step into this phase of growth but couldn’t shake the question of… “Who am I?”

She wanted to be the person she’s always been.  A present mother and a business owner, the hard worker behind the scenes.  But mostly - someone who gets to remain anonymous by choice, at least within the confines of her business, away from the spotlight.

Yet she’s always dreamed large, and this new chapter of hers demanded an identity, and a story that only she could tell.  One she needed the confidence to step into, and to do so with pride. 

 This next stage of growth was what she’d been working so hard for, one that her future self would be so incredibly grateful for.  

 But evolution is so often accompanied by discomfort, and she kept asking herself  - “Is it worth it?”

I walked away from our conversation being reminded of what it takes to grow.  

It’s not about letting go of the values that remain foundational to who you are and everything that brought you here, but to acknowledge that there is always a gap between who we are right now and who we yearn to become.  It’s the complex journey of growth, where every choice is an opportunity to inch a little closer to your dreams.

Are you feeling the discomfort of crossroads where you are right now, wondering if the leap is worth it?

The answer for my friend was yes.  (I wish you could have seen her shine - think New York bridal fashion week and the front cover feature of a business magazine….ooh la la!).

Maybe there’s a future version of you who would rejoice over a decision you feel called to make today - even if it feels hard. 

This is your gentle reminder to do it for her.