EMBRACE YOUR 'GROWING PAIN'

Intense people are fast-growing creatures. 
It is in your nature to rapidly outgrow people, things, and places.

When you feel compelled to initiate a change— a breakup, a resignation, a relocation, it almost always feels like your only choice. 
Sometimes, you wish you were more easily content.

Even your mind knows it is the right path, you experience a myriad of complex emotions.
Your excitement might be shielded by anxiety, grief, guilt and loneliness.

But what would you prefer? To look back at your life and realise you have wasted time in a career, relationship or process that have expired? 
Or would you rather know that you had always left at the right time, even when it was momentarily disconcerting?

Sometimes, you have to embark on paths that bring tremendous guilt. 
You feel as though you have betrayed, left behind, abandoned your family and friends.

But what would you prefer? To betray your truth for false loyalty, trading your authenticity for group harmony? Can you really feel you belong when you cannot be yourself? When a relationship feels like a trap, is it true love or symbiosis?

As a truth seeker, a multipotentialite, a fierce lover and a borderless world citizen, your existence itself is a challenge to those around you.

'You have changed,' say your friends. You feel guilt-tripped, but you must know the pain of shedding what you have outgrown is more honourable to bear than the resentment from being held back.

'Your choices do not make any sense,' say your parents. You feel criticised and judged, but we must penetrate their words to the truth behind. They are confined not just by a limited worldview, but profound anxiety over what happens to you. Their invalidation is a clumsy expression of love, though sadly it leaves you feeling betrayed and isolated.

I know this is not an easy path; it is precarious, lonely and at times, despairing.

But this is your path.

If for you growth is more important than comfort;
If you couldn't help but always see the bigger picture;
If you feel trapped easily;
If you are inspired by beauty and justice;
If you are a truth seeker and couldn't stand hypocrisy;
Then I am afraid growing pain is a part of your path.

Just because it is called 'pain' doesn't mean it is bad. 
Within this unique species of pain comes excitement, adventures, and at times ecstasy.
The world does not need you to slow down or to be silent. 
It is not your job to make everyone comfortable.
Rather than trying to negate growing pain, embrace it.
Remind yourself that your grief, guilt and fear are symptoms of growth. 
Be proud of your accelerated path. 
You will always be in transition, but you will learn to dance in the flux. It is your natural habitat.

The mountain top is for souls courageous that are enough to take the steps.

🌊

“I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.” 

― Anaïs Nin

THIS WEEK’S EXPERIMENT: A SACRED RITUAL

Identify one aspect of your life- it could be a process, a relationship of any kind or a habit that has outlived its usefulness. It might be an actual job, a partnership, a negative belief, or a way of being.

Reflect on what makes you hold onto it.

Pull out a big piece of paper, and visually represent this aspect/ person/ process/ behaviour.

Consider how it has helped or protected you through these years, and give thanks to it. Honour it.

Then, find a sacred way to bury it, burn it, or discard it.

Focus on the space you have made after the clearing.