My warm Greetings people of hive, Today, I want to share a story about a moment in my life when I realized I had grown not in the way the world often defines growth, with more wealth, fame, or influence, but in a quieter, deeper way. It was a moment of shedding, of becoming less to become better, like a snake leaving behind its old skin or a gardener pruning branches to help a plant blossom,have you ever seen a flower being pruned, it's not pruned because it isn't growing necessarily but because it's growing haphazardly, it's branches have no direction. Because you're doing well financially and socially doesn't validate your growth,it could even be that the results you see aren't the supposed yet you're comfortable just cause you're experiencing a bit out of the dozens of possibilities you could walk in,real growth begins with the fruitfulness of the soul,i could say your mind,just by acccepting to be pruned. Do well to journey with me alright.
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Growth, I’ve learned, isn’t always about adding more; sometimes, it’s about letting go of what no longer serves you, even when it feels like a part of you.A few years ago, I found myself at a crossroads. I was in my early twenties, chasing a version of success I thought I needed, a demanding job, a packed social calendar, and relationships I held onto tightly because they’d been with me for years. On the outside, it looked like I was thriving, busy, connected, climbing the ladder. But inside, I felt suffocated, weighed down by expectations, habits, and even people I thought I could never live without. I was holding onto blessings that had expired, clinging to an old skin that no longer fit.
The moment of realization came during a quiet evening after a particularly exhausting week. I was sitting alone in my apartment, reflecting on why I felt so drained despite “having it all.” I’d been invited to yet another social event, one I didn’t even want to attend, but felt obligated to because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. That’s when it hit me, I was carrying too much, not just tasks or commitments, but old mindsets, fears of letting people down, and a need to prove myself. I was suffocating under the weight of things I thought protected me but were actually holding me back and limiting me. That night, I made a decision that felt radical at the time, I started saying no, i let go of relationships that drained me, not because I didn’t care, but because I needed space to grow, I stepped back from a job that demanded too much of my soul for too little in return, I began pruning my life, cutting away branches not out of hate, but out of love for the person I was becoming. It was addition by subtraction,losing to gain. And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. Letting go of what’s familiar feels like losing a part of yourself, but in that shedding, I found freedom.
This process taught me that growth isn’t always loud or flashy, It’s not always about getting more; sometimes, it’s about becoming less,lets get it clear when i say less I don't mean you become poor,never seeking the fame,the influence , the impact and all that, what i mean by less is letting go of the weights,things that don't matter and aiming at building yourself in your closet,I stopped seeking validation from others and started listening to my own heart, I began thinking differently, prioritizing my peace over external approval. Emotionally, I grew stronger by setting boundaries. Mentally, I became clearer by focusing on what truly mattered. Physically, I even felt lighter, as the stress of carrying too much began to lift.
But here’s the thing about growth that we don’t talk about enough, it requires patience. Oh, how I wanted to skip to the end, to the part where I felt whole and confident in my new skin! But growth doesn’t work that way,It’s slow, not always though,sometimes it's painful, and often invisible until you look back. I had moments of doubt, wondering if I’d made a mistake by letting go of so much. There were days when the results weren’t clear, and I was tempted to slip back into old habits but patience kept me grounded. I learned that consistency, even when the progress isn’t obvious, is what builds the foundation for lasting change.
The most underrated part of growth is the quiet endurance it demands, the willingness to keep going when the end isn’t in sight.
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Looking back, I realize that moment of pruning was my greatest elevation, by shedding what no longer served me, I made room for new growth ,new dreams, new relationships, and a new sense of self. Like a snake shedding its skin to avoid suffocation, I let go of what was killing me softly to become better.
Growth, I’ve learned, is not about accumulating more but about becoming the best version of yourself, even if it means becoming less in the eyes of the world.
I sincerely have s lot more to say but I'll be disciplined and end here.So, I encourage you today to reflect on your own journey. What are you holding onto that’s expired? What old skin are you ready to shed? Embrace the patience it takes to grow, and trust that sometimes, less is more. Thank you.