#1 Everything Feels Messy

I know the perfectionist in you doesn’t want to believe that, but it is true. The number one sign that you’re growing is feeling like your life is out of order, that it’s falling apart.

It can be daunting. But it’s a powerful state to be in. The only way you reinvent is by going to the core and rebuilding yourself. And in those moments, you might feel lost.

It’s okay, though. Trust the process. It will lead you the right way.

#2 You’re uncomfortable.

Well, congratulations! That’s what growth is supposed to feel like! If you’re hating yourself for choosing the hard part, you’re doing the right thing. When we’re growing in life, we’re supposed to stretch our muscles, come face to face with uncertainty, and rise through it all.

That’s how we not only build our ability to do things, but also build our confidence in turning the tables, beating the odds, and fulfilling our dreams. 

Everything you want is on the other side of the discomfort you dread.

That’s a powerful mindset shift.

#3 Some Days Feel Overwhelming:

I’ll let you in on a secret now. Every high achiever that you see has probably had their fair share of overwhelming days. Those were times when they felt they couldn’t go on. They thought they had hit a wall and jumping over it was impossible.

But they didn’t back down. Did they take time to rest and recover? Yes. But they did not give up. And that’s the mark of an achiever. Overwhelming days are a part of the process and you’re allowed to rest through them. You can place a comma there, but make sure it doesn’t turn into a full stop.

#4 You Contradict Your Past Self:

In my first-ever blog post on July 14^th, 2019, I wrote, “It takes 21 days to build a habit.”

That was a famous statistic on the internet and I had tried a few things to conclude that it was true. But now I know better. 

It’s less about the number of days and more about the mental frame you have. Your mindset and belief patterns determine how fast or slow you’ll build new habits. While 21 days is common, it’s not the hard and fast rule for everyone.

I could panic about this and say, “How can I write two different perspectives about habits? Won’t I contradict myself?” I will, but it’s fine. 

That’s how you grow—by recognizing that your beliefs about yourself and the world are evolving into better and stronger ones.

#5 You have a clear Goal:

Here’s a quote that will change your life.

“Growth for the sake of it is the ideology of the cancer cell.”​
—Edward Abbey, Writer and Environmental Activist

My life has two phases: one before reading that quote, and one after. It puts the power of intention into perspective. Because if you’re just chasing growth, you’re actually behaving like a cancer cell.

And that’s why most startups fail. They chase growth like it’s the only thing that matters—even if it comes at the cost of a profitable, sustainable business. When that constant chase doesn’t work out, they shut shop.

Be clear about the “Why” behind your goals and growth. Intention is the difference between a healthy cell that supports life and a cancer cell that ends it. Make sure you’re the healthy one.

#6 Gratitude Becomes an Everyday Emotion:

There’s power in gratitude. We all know that. But where does gratitude come from in the first place?

Focus. How grateful we feel is directly correlated with how focused we are. And it makes sense. When we’re focused, we are present. And when we are present, we notice the tiny, beautiful things about our lives that we wouldn’t notice otherwise.

When you’re on the path of growth, your focus naturally strengthens and so do your feelings of gratitude.

#7 You Become More Creative:

This year, I’m doing a lot of things. I’m building a business, writing three newsletters, working on a podcast (announcement soon!), and creating more content than ever before.

By all traditional means, I should have burned out by now. Instead, I’m more energetic and creative than I’ve ever been. Ideas come to me at the most random moments. The notes on my phone are full of potential posts, strategies, and video ideas. I’m writing almost five pages in my journal each night because there’s so much to process and think about.

The best part? I’m loving it. And that’s what growth does. It’s demanding, but it makes you more creative than you’ve ever been.

#8 You Fall in Love with the Process:

Helen Hayes, a famous American Actress from the 1930s said:

“Achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that’s nice, too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.”

That’s what true growth is—falling in love with the process of achievement. When your focus is on the things you can do versus the things you can get, you become proactive and make things happen in your life.

Save this email. Any time you find yourself worrying about things you can’t control, come back and read this quote.

Stop focusing on success. Start focusing on achievement. That will build the foundation on which your growth stands.