There’s nothing quite like a personal growth journey to spark introspection, as well as many self-discovery-based questions to be explored. It can feel overwhelming and simultaneously like one of the most rewarding times of your life. If you’re in need of some guidance as you navigate the journey, this post is for you!
1- Accept the fact that you might feel lonely during this time.
When you’re growing into a new version of yourself, that likely means you’re outgrowing certain relationships. As sad as it may be, there’s nothing wrong with it. You’re not wrong, and nor are they, for growing in different directions. My post Monthly Mindset Shift: Outgrowing Long-Term Relationships and Friendships goes into greater depth on this topic. On the other side of your personal growth journey, you’re bound to make new connections with people who align better with the new “you”!
Also, even for the relationships you’re not outgrowing, those people can support you through your journey, but they can’t exactly go through the journey with you. That’s something only you can do for yourself! At the most, they may be going through a parallel journey, but theirs is still theirs, while yours is yours. It’s possible to feel alone even with a great support system, just because your journey is a solo mission. However, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. My post Monthly Mindset Shift: How to Reframe Loneliness might just help you see the value in this lonely season. The key is to remember that you won’t always feel this way, but for the time that you do, you may as well take advantage of the stronger relationship you’re developing with yourself. It’s not everyday that you get the opportunity to focus so much of your energy on you!
2- Challenge yourself, in a loving way, to reach new heights.
Since it’s a solitary journey, no one can hold you accountable in the way that you can. You may as well set the standards high for yourself, just like you’d do for a friend if you were helping them in their journey. Of course, you can do this in a way that’s compassionate toward yourself. For instance, there may be days when all you can do is rest, or days when you just need to cry it out. Give yourself that grace, and then challenge yourself to keep going! Your challenges to yourself don’t need to be massive; they just need to push you out of your comfort zone a little. Each new “level” you reach will feel like a leap at first, until it somehow becomes the new normal!
3- Ask yourself the hard questions, and challenge your limiting beliefs.
This time will naturally put you under a microscope, but the good news is, you only have to answer to yourself. If you’re looking to progress in any area, but you’re having a hard time doing so, the problem might be more deeply-rooted than you think. Do you believe that you’re capable of succeeding? Do you believe that amazing things can happen for you? If the answer to these questions is no—or just not a confident yes—why might that be?
The more you can understand the root of your limiting beliefs and work through them, the more progress you should start to see. You may have been taking action from the energy of your limiting beliefs without even realizing it. Even if you were doing everything “right” on paper, there were blockages that prevented you from making headway. Once you start to make space for LIBERATING beliefs instead, you should notice a difference in the energy behind your actions, which should lead to different, better results!
4- Don’t expect your journey to be linear.
It’s natural to have setbacks during your quest to grow. The important thing is to not let it discourage you, at least not substantially or for long. Your commitment to your goals should ultimately outweigh the setbacks you experience. As per the 2nd point, of course, it’s okay to give yourself time to feel your feelings when things aren’t going the way you hoped just yet. However, sometimes the best way to overcome those feelings is to stay focused on moving forward. As long as you accept that setbacks come with the territory, you should be able to keep your eye on the prize and keep going!
5- Document your journey in as much detail as possible.
This could mean keeping a daily journal where you express your thoughts, feelings, setbacks, progress, etc. It could also mean keeping a habit / progress tracker. Regardless, these receipts will be invaluable for you to look back on. There’s something special about being able to read your own firsthand accounts of a transformational time in your life. You may not be able to relive that time, but this will give you as close to that feeling as possible!
The bottom line…
Personal growth isn’t always fun when you’re in the midst of it. When you look back on it, though, you should feel so proud of yourself for making it through! In fact, dare I say, you might even feel nostalgic about the breakthroughs you make (I know I do). Best of luck to you on your personal growth journey—you’ve got this!!
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