the slow seaons
This week, I've sat with an idea that’s been very real in my own life lately… the times when you’re growing, but it doesn’t look like it yet.
If you’re wired like me (driven, maybe a little restless, and often anxious about whether you’re doing “enough”), you know how hard it can be to sit in a season where things feel slow or hidden.
You’re working hard.
You’re showing up.
You’re pouring energy into something meaningful.
And yet, there’s nothing obvious you can point to.
No big milestone.
No shiny “proof” of progress.
All of your hard work may even be completely unseen by others around you.
Right now, I’m in one of those seasons.
Earlier this year, I wrote my first book, which was both thrilling and daunting. Now, I'm in the editing phase.
Writing a book is the definition of long-term, unseen, thankless work.
Day by day, it looks like staring at a blank page, writing a few paragraphs, reworking sentences, and tucking them away. There’s no instant gratification, no final product I can hold up yet. And if I’m honest, it’s uncomfortable. I want to be further along. I want to see the finish line. And… update: I'm behind on my (self-imposed) deadlines.
At the same time, life has pressed pause in other ways for our family.
This week, our youngest daughter was hospitalized with a respiratory illness. She was ambulanced to the ER and spent time in the ICU. She’s home now, thank God, and recovering, but as parents, it has weighed very, very heavily on us.
Nothing puts life in perspective like sitting in a hospital room at 3 AM with your sick baby.
In those moments, worldly deadlines and goals fade, and what matters most is oh so clear: health, love, presence, family, connection.
So I’ve been thinking a lot about how to live faithfully in the seasons that don’t look like much on the surface… the seasons where we’re planting but not harvesting (yet).
And I want to share a few reminders and tools with you, in case you’re walking through your own “hidden growth” season, too.
Here they are.
Redefine What Counts as Growth
Sometimes we only call something “growth” if it’s measurable. Therapists are notorious for this. We even have a term for it… SMART Goals… which stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based.
If there’s a number, a milestone, or an achievement… that's what matters.
But real growth often looks like small choices stacked over time: choosing patience, choosing to show up, choosing rest instead of hustle, choosing courage instead of avoidance, choosing to keep going, choosing to do the thankless thing (over and over).
Every small act of faithfulness matters.
Write it down.
Celebrate it.
Your progress is bigger than it feels.
Make Peace With Roots
Think about a tree. The longest and most invisible part of its growth is underground. Roots take time. And without strong roots, fruit doesn’t last. Your “unseen” work, whether it’s therapy, healing, creating, grad school, building routines, deepening relationships, parenting… is the root work that sustains the visible results later.
Ask yourself: What roots am I growing right now that will last a lifetime?
Find Anchors in the Day-to-Day
When life feels slow or uncertain, anchors can keep you steady. A few ideas:
Breath practices to calm your nervous system (try a simple inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 6).
Micro-goals: things you can finish in 15 minutes that give a sense of accomplishment.
Journaling or gratitude lists to remind yourself of what’s already here and good.
Movement: walks, stretching, or workouts, not just for your body but for clearing your mind.
Small anchors bring a sense of progress, even when the big picture feels blurry.
Resist the Comparison Trap
One of the hardest parts of slow seasons is looking around and seeing others who seem to be thriving, producing, and achieving. Oof.
A reminder today: You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re simply in a different season. And seasons always change.
Protect your mind by limiting comparison… whether that means muting accounts on social media, reminding yourself of your values, or leaning into gratitude for your own lane.
ON THE BLOG: Create Your Own Social Media Mission Statement >
Remember What Actually Matters
This week reminded me in a big way: at the end of the day, success is not about the finished book, the career milestone, or the social-media-shareable moment.
Those things are wonderful, but they aren’t ultimate.
What matters most (to me) is family, health, faith, connection, and being present for the people right in front of you. The growth we’re chasing should never come at the cost of what we treasure most.
DIG DEEPER: Watch My Free Training on Discovering Your Life Values (i.e. What Matters Most) >
Keep Going (Even If You Don’t Feel Like It)
Here’s the encouragement I need, and maybe you do too: Just because you can’t see the results yet doesn’t mean they aren’t coming.
The seeds you’re planting right now matter.
They are seen.
They are shaping the person you’re becoming, and they will bear fruit in time.
Don’t stop showing up.
Don’t discount the season you’re in.
If you’re reading this and nodding along, feeling the weight of being in your own slow-growth season, know this: you’re not alone. I’m in it with you. And while it doesn’t look flashy, the growth you’re tending to today is important, lasting, and deeply worthwhile.
Thanks for reading! Want more writings and resources?
Here are a few blog posts you might enjoy:
001. Read me if you want more vision casting tips and tools
002. Read me if you're struggling with anxiety
003. Grab my free YouTube training on discovering your top life values
004. Join the weekly newsletter for resources, essays, and encouragement.
Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
