Personal Growth: It’s Always About the Journey–Trust the Process, Connection, and Hope
I have a good friend who was by my side in the early days of grieving and at the beginning of my healing journey. He was especially present when I signed up for a deep transformational coaching workshop—one of the first steps I took in my personal growth journey.
He called me after reading last week’s Journal and we shared a heartfelt and reminiscent conversation about all the emotions, doubts, and needs that are so often left unsaid when we talk about self-growth and transformation.
Too often we focus on the "highlight reel" moments—the exciting victories of strength, breakthrough, and empowerment. But what's forgotten are the unglamorous and unsexy parts: the personal doubts, the daily "work" that got us there and keeps us there, and all the emotions that we process throughout the journey.
It’s time to talk about the unglamorous and unsexy!
Trust the Process
This is a foundational mindset of any self-growth work, especially in transformational coaching. It’s necessary to let go of what you think it will be or should be, and let things unfold as they need to.
I’ve explored a variety of approaches to personal and professional development, from traditional therapy and coaching, to group workshops and retreats, and each time I relied on this mantra of “Trust the Process” to guide me through.
I'll admit, I didn't always embrace it gracefully. I've rolled my eyes and huffed at the often unconventional practices I was presented with. But as the saying goes, 'If you want different results, you have to do something different.' To do that, it's crucial to surrender and trust the process.
You Are Not Alone
Anyone who has ever pursued self-growth will undoubtedly confirm that they've felt isolated at some point in their journey. As humans, connection is one of our core fundamental needs. To feel seen, heard, and understood by another person is as essential to our emotional well-being as breath is to our physical body.
The most powerful gift of any group experience, whether in coaching, therapy, learning, or anything else, is being able to identify with others and realize that we are not alone.
Through shared moments and honest connection, we are reminded that our struggles and our lives are part of a shared human experience.
I’ve felt this truth deeply through:
Group therapy sessions for grief.
Honest everyday conversations with trusted friends about parenting challenges, personal health, wellness, and aging.
Transformational coaching workshops.
Candid discussions with fellow coaches about mindset, discipline and motivation.
And the result of each of these exchanges was always the same: feeling seen and understood, with the knowledge that I am not alone in my thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Hold on with Hope
Hope is what we cling to when we're in the depths of uncertainty. When we don't know what to do or what will happen, we turn to hope—and hope is built on faith, trust, and desire:
Faith that beyond the current circumstances there is a life of joy and fulfillment.
Trust in ourselves and in our resilience to overcome challenges, and trust in a higher power that there is meaning beyond our limited perspective.
Desire to rise above and move beyond what feels difficult, limiting, or constrictive, toward purpose and freedom.
As a life coach, my intention is to lead with the integrity and courage to be vulnerable. I share my vulnerability as an invitation to others to see that they can heal, grow, and thrive.
In particular, I write these weekly Journals to share the truth behind growth and transformation—not just the pretty, polished final result. Growth is often messy, uncertain, and undoubtedly an ongoing process of becoming. Anyone who has delved into self-development knows that it becomes a lifelong journey of growth, learning, refinement, and expansion. My purpose is to use my words inspire you to stay in the arena of life and hold on with hope, because tomorrow is definitely worth holding on for.
We all love the exciting and triumphant end results: standing strong and facing difficulties, overcoming challenges, beating the odds, finding purpose, building wealth and success. But the real rewards of deep self-growth lie beyond those glamorous outcomes. Along the way, we uncover unexpected gifts—trust, connection, and hope—and realize that we need to pour them repeatedly into our daily choices. Over time, it's those investments that eventually create the sexy and glamorous results.
It’s always about the journey—trust the process, know that you are never alone, have hope, and choose yourself with love every day.
Photo: @NatashaHalimiPhoto
