Yes, You're definitely allowed to grow and change.

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I've heard this phrase so many times before, it sounds so simple, yet I often find myself forgetting. But one thing I know, I'm definitely not alone. We forget that we have the freedom to change who we are. When something no longer serves us, we are free to outgrow it.  And we definitely don’t need anyone’s permission to do that.

We get scared of accepting change because we feel like we’re betraying who we used to be. You might also feel like you owe the world some version of yourself. What will people think if I stop doing this?" is the first thing that comes to mind. or "If I change my mind, will they understand?" "Will they call me fake for leaving the group?" 

Growth also shows up in healing, and trust me, healing will change you. You might find yourself becoming more mindful, more honest, or more intentional with yourself. Some might call your growth fake or say you’ve changed too much. And you know what? That’s okay. Your life isn’t a performance for them to understand. Remember, you’re not fake for evolving.

It's unfair how society often expects us to stay the same. We’re often praised for sticking to one identity, one path, one version of ourselves, even if it no longer feels right. You need to remind yourself that, it's okay if your mindset shift and it takes courage to realign yourself with what matters to you now. 

Here are few ways to accept your growth, guilt-free:

1. Remind yourself that it's your life, not a group project!

Bestie, people will always have opinions about your life. Your growth might make others uncomfortable, not because you’re wrong, but because they’re not ready to change themselves. That doesn’t mean you owe them an explanation or an apology. You're not in this world to live up to someone else’s script.

2. Talk to yourself like you're your best friend.

Would you call your friend fake for deciding to change careers or set boundaries? No? Then stop calling yourself that. Be as kind to you as you are to the people you love, especially on the days growth feels overwhelming.

3. Let go of the old version of you, with love.

You don’t have to resent who you used to be. That version of you got you here. He/she did her best with what she knew at the time. You can thank her and still decide it’s time to do things differently.

4. Journal it out. Literally.

Sometimes your head just needs a place to dump all the guilt, confusion, and “what ifs.” Writing it out, even in voice notes, can help you see things clearly. You might realize that you're holding onto old things because they’re familiar.

5. Celebrate small wins.

Growth isn’t always this dramatic, butterfly out of a cocoon thing. Sometimes it looks like saying no when you’d normally say yes. Or choosing rest instead of over-explaining. Every time you show up for the new you, that’s growth. And it’s worth celebrating, even if it’s just a little happy dance in your kitchen.

We also need to remember that, as we allow ourselves to grow and change, it's also important to be kind to ourselves. Growth is messy it's not something linear,  It doesn’t always feel good or clear. Some days you’ll be all confident and aligned and other days you’ll be Googling “What am I doing with my life?” at 2am. That’s okay, it's human.

You’re allowed to change your mind, your habits, your whole direction if you want to. You’re allowed to disappoint people who only love the version of you that stayed small. And you’re allowed to take your sweet time figuring it all out.

So breathe. You're not behind. You're not broken. You're just becoming better.

Think back to last year, what's one way you've grown or changed for the better?

I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks a bunch for sticking around.

See you next time, bye!🤎

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