There's a common belief that growth follows a straight path - work hard, level up, repeat. In reality, real growth rarely follows a neat trajectory. Sometimes, it looks like failing, like walking away from something you once wanted, or like standing still while everyone else seems to be moving ahead. It doesn’t always feel empowering. In fact, it mostly feels exhausting, frustrating, even humiliating. But does that mean it isn’t happening?

We assume progress should come with clear signs - more success, more confidence, more validation. But what if growth is happening in the moments you least expect? Maybe it’s in the rejection that forces you to rethink your approach. Maybe it’s in the phase where nothing seems to be changing, but beneath the surface, you’re developing resilience. Maybe it’s in the loss that strips away your certainty but leaves behind something more valuable: clarity.

We tell ourselves that if we’re struggling, we must be failing. That if we haven’t achieved a tangible milestone, we must be stuck. What if those moments are just part of the process and nothing more? Growth isn’t always about moving up. It can maybe be expanding, shifting and sometimes even breaking apart so you can rebuild stronger. So instead of asking, “Why am I not where I thought I’d be?” Maybe the real question is, “What am I learning that I didn’t expect?” Because that’s where you might just realize that you have been growing all along.