Here I am – a practitioner and entrepreneur with the privilege of being on what I call a ‘radical sabbatical‘ at the moment. And at the same time, I’ve been feeling… different. Different enough that I began to wonder – is this just a phase of personal growth or should I be concerned about my mental health?

First, of course, the scientist in me came out. I went to the DSM-5 to see if I could identify what was going on. What I am feeling wasn’t in there.

Next, I popped out some feelers on social media. And it appears I’m not alone in feeling a bit off-kilter. Which, if you think about it, is pretty understandable considering the events of the past year or two.

Thankfully, just knowing I’m not alone in these feelings took the worry away. And that’s when I realised what I’m experiencing is actually just another stage of my growth – as a person, a business owner, and an entrepreneur.

Recognising The Experience Of Personal Growth

Some words from Alice Walker have really hit home with me over the past couple of weeks …

“Some periods of our growth are so confusing that we don’t even recognise that growth is happening. We may feel hostile or angry or weepy and hysterical, or we may feel depressed.

It would never occur to us, unless we stumbled on a book or a person who explained to us, that we were in fact in the process of change, of actually becoming larger than we were before.

Whenever we grow, we tend to feel it, as a young seed must feel the weight and inertia of the earth as it seeks to break out of its shell on its way to becoming a plant. Often the feeling is anything but pleasant.

But what is most unpleasant is the not knowing what is happening. Those long periods when something inside ourselves seems to be waiting, holding its breath, unsure about what the next step should be… for it is in those periods that we realize that we are being prepared for the next phase of our life and that, in all probability, a new level of the personality is about to be revealed.”

~ Alice Walker, Living By The Word

These words really capture what’s been happening for me recently. And they make me feel peaceful. Because I know when I come out on the other side of this growth spurt, I will be stronger. A better version of myself.

And if you’ve hung around here much at all, you’ll know that I’m all about that.

How To Spur Your Own Personal Growth

So if you’re been feeling a funk this week … you may just be growing. The weight of the world is required to have you sprout and blossom… and it’s so close.

This is something I’ve seen so many times on retreat, the space of grace to grow… the deep dive into it.

And I’ve held space for so many people over the years, you’d think I could recognise it when I am in the midst of it myself.  But here I am in the growth zone … just now beginning to understand what’s been happening.

The cool thing is, after reading these words from Alice, the past week has seen a huge shift for me… and I hope it will be for you, too. Because turning this corner has had me more productive, helped me finish up art, and start my yoga practice again.

I remembered to apply my own Review and Renew training to myself.  Which helped me realise where I could best provide value and let go of things that weren’t working.  And my retreat to Lord Howe Island is now fully booked out *but if you’d like to join any of our other retreats, you can check them out here).

What kind of shifts have you experienced lately? And how are you handling them? Leave a comment below to share your experience.

Note About Mental Health:  If you are truly worried about your mental health, please don’t do it alone. Reach out to a trusted friend or practitioner, or utilise LifeLine 131114 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.