The growth ‘grief factor’

There have been a lot of growing pains in my life lately. From friendships to romantic flings to parenthood and self-improvement, who I was a year ago wouldn't recognize the person I am now. It's for the better; I can see what a healthier, more whole human I've become. That doesn't mean that it hasn't hurt though.

With growth, comes a lot of loss. You can't grow into your next stage with all of the parts from the last one. Parts of your old life literally die away, which is sad and painful.  To disregard that fact is counterproductive and insulting to your journey. As backwards as it may sound, grieving is all part of the growth process.

Keep. Growing. Anyway.

One of the lessons I seem to be learning a lot lately is that things can be "both" quite often. A new job can be both rewarding and terrifying. Conversations can be both insightful and draining. That person you have to complete a special project with? They can be both helpful and annoying. Growth is no different. It can be both incredibly important and rewarding, while also being sad and frustrating.

While you are doing the hard work of stretching and learning and pushing, you are also saying goodbye to your comfort zone, to the space that was home for this last chapter. That is a big deal! Allow yourself to feel the weight of that goodbye and to grieve the parts you will miss. Giving yourself that grace will help you open up more fully to what comes next.

Growth can often times feels very lonely. Just know that while you may not have familiar faces in your corner at the moment, you are not alone. You can do this and will be all the better for it.

Cheering you on always,
Kate