I have good news and I have bad news. 

The good news is that if you want to grow as a person, you’re in luck. There are infinite amount of opportunities present to all of us today to grow and learn and change. You are completely capable of changing your circumstances and behaviors to reach the goals that you have on any given day.

The bad news… it’s not going to be comfortable.

Growth doesn’t happen when everything is good and you’re kicking ass and taking names. 

It happens when you feel out of place. 

It happens when you feel stretched and confused.

It happens when things don’t seem to make sense. 

It happens when you’re weary and worn out and you just want to make it to the next thing (whatever that may be). 

When you’re in this kind of situation, that is like prime soil for growth to occur. And you have two choices: use the moment to grow. Or stay where you are. 

One of my favorite illustrations of how growth occurs is to think of a seed. 

An adorable, cute, tiny little seed. 

It gets planted. Underground. In the dirt. That can’t be comfortable or fun.

Down below the surface, the growing starts to happen. But in order for that occur, the seed has to die. It can’t stay the way it’s been for its whole existence. It has to trust that by letting go of its current form it can become what it was destined to be.

Then, and only then, will a sprout start to show. The oak tree doesn’t appear overnight. And some days it doesn’t look like it’s growing at all. But it is. 

It’s stretching.

It’s absorbing. 

It’s waiting.

It’s letting the growth happen.

So, the next time you’re in an uncomfortable situation, check in and see what growth opportunities are sitting right in front of you. 

Then, stretch.