My little one just went through a growth spurt. Seemingly overnight, he suddenly became markedly larger.
After weeks of feeding and feeding and feeding him without it appearing to make a difference in his size/weight, suddenly, just like that, he was noticeably bigger and heavier.
The overnight change was rather shocking.
While I knew, theoretically, that these times of sudden change are called growth spurts for a reason, it was incredible to actually witness the growth and seemingly out-of-nowhere transformation.
Which got me thinking… 🙂
As adults, we go through growth spurts too.
As an adult, a growth spurt could look like a dramatic increase in our skill level with regards to the thing we do – singing, public speaking, writing, woodworking, playing an instrument, coaching, parenting, writing…
For instance, you might spend days and days trying to master a new, more complicated song on your guitar and then, suddenly one day, you discover you can play it perfectly. Simultaneously, your ability to play in general takes a huge leap forward as well.
Deep self-care also leads to growth spurts.
For those of us on a path of deep self-care, we become more grounded, more compassionate, and more loving both of ourselves and others as a result of a growth spurt.
What makes it possible for a growth spurt to occur.
When on a path of deep self-care, we commit to learning about and doing the things that nourish and support us on a daily basis… those things that help you connect to our bodies, our Selves, and the present moment.
From this place of nourished self-awareness and inner resilience, we are better able to meet pain – whether physical or emotional.
As we continue to meet our pain using all of our self-care skills, eventually a growth spurt occurs and something big shifts and transforms.
Often, these transformations seem to happen overnight.
One day we still find ourselves triggered by the same old thing. The next, we are able to stay centered in ourselves and respond in a completely new and different way to the very situation that just yesterday caused us so much distress and pain.
The old pattern no longer sticks to us in the same way.
We no longer need to react out of fear or anxiety and can instead respond with a much higher level of kindness and compassion.
However, last night didn’t make the entire difference.
Yes, we can now respond differently to pain today than we could yesterday. Yes, we have more options today than yesterday. But, whatever happened last night was not ‘why’ the growth spurt occurred – at least not entirely.
These growth spurts both DO and DO NOT happen overnight.
What I want to point out today is that while it may seem that this growth (this shift) occurred overnight, it both did and it didn’t.
Rather, it was all those previous nights of you showing up, of you continuing to meet and work with the things in your life that evoke fear, anxiety, anger, and doubt that made it possible for the growth spurt to occur.
The beauty of growth spurts.
The beauty of growth spurts lies in the marked difference from one day to the next.
The danger of growth spurts.
The danger of growth spurts lies in the it being really simple to:
- believe that the growth spurt happened because of the ‘thing’ you did the previous day or days before the spurt which can
- Â lead to you discounting your own power in this process.
Perhaps you worked with a healer or coach or therapist, went to a yoga class, tried a new medicine or herb, or attended a workshop or other event.
While The Thing likely did help to initiate the growth spurt, it isn’t the sole cause of the growth spurt.
Rather, all of your previous self-care set the stage for The Thing to be effective.
Giving The Thing the credit for your growth spurt (or healing/transformation) is dis-empowering.
Not only is it dis-empowering, it also discounts all the time, effort, and energy you apply on a day-to-day basis to care for and nourish yourself.
Plus, it sets the stage for disappointment the next time you are seeking a shift and the same person (or practice or event) doesn’t lead to the healing you seek.
The take-away.
- Growth spurts are amazing and can completely transform our lives for the better.
- Keep in mind that it is our daily commitment to caring for and nourishing ourselves that sets the stage for these growth spurts to occur.
sending love and cool breezes (if you are in need),
larisa
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