The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.

~Oprah Winfrey

I know who I am right now. I have no idea who I will be next week, next month, or even next year. I am constantly evolving. Like the forest, I change from moment to moment. Every experience shapes and molds me. Every time the wind blows, something shifts, things are never quite like before. Branches fall, animal trails change, and things die. It’s all apart of life.

I see the person I would like to be and each day I try to grow a little more to reach that goal. Sometimes things you don’t expect end up happening and it pauses that growth for a moment. But you have to force yourself to move past those road blocks or you’re going to end up in the same place you are five years from now.

There are lessons to be learned in every decision you make. Right now, I’m learning a lesson about the hearts of man. It is a bitter lesson that has caused me to slip into a negative head space. I like to think of it as me fighting against a fast flowing river. Every so often I am able to pull myself up for air, but most of the time I’m submerged. But no worries, I know that eventually I will resurface again. I’m a very resilient person.

Sometimes people choose a path that they know will lead to disaster, but they do it because they just want to make sure. I’ve done that quite often in my life and the results are almost exactly as I predicted. But I don’t look at those moments as wastes of time because they brought me valuable lessons. They taught me more about myself and my ability to cope with the harsh realities of life.

I’ve come to understand that people evolve at different rates. This fact causes relationships to strengthen or deteriorate over the course of one’s life. I’ve had my fair share of deteriorated relationships (both platonic and romantic) and at some point you have to step out of your comfort zone and realize that, that is not what you need and move on. It’s hard. It’s scary. But to leave something behind that is bad for you, even though it may have been a constant part of your life for years, is the best thing you can do for yourself. I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ll repeat it. You can not grow in a stagnant relationship. Whether that be with family, friends, or a significant other. I’ve had no quips or qualms about cutting off certain family members because their presence in my life hindered my growth and happiness. In the end that’s the best thing to do because continuing on in that relationship will only lead to resentment.

Far too often I see people ceasing their quest for growth and they end up miserable. They never learn from their mistakes. They never get out of their own bad situations. They are never really whole. I also see some people still stuck in childhood. They talk about high school like it was yesterday, but they’re in their mid to late-20’s. They have no dreams for the future. They have no hunger for life. They’re just existing. I’m not sure if they’ve struggled so much that they’ve given up or that they had no desire to grow beyond a certain level to begin with. To those that have given up, I would tell them that they should let nothing stop them. There will always be people trying to hold you back, but you have to shut out those voices and do what is best for you. What matters most is what makes you happy. Do what you got to do to make yourself whole. Whether that means starting completely over in a new place then so be it.

I find that what helps me continue to move forward is to imagine who I would like to be and each day I do a little bit more to become that person.  It’s okay if you stumble, just pick yourself back up and continue on the path you assigned for yourself. It’s all about the journey really and the more you learn, the more you experience new things,  the more they shape your image of yourself and the world around you.

Basically, I just want to say never stop growing. Never let your fears or being comfortable in a position keep you from becoming a better you. Also, never settle for mediocre love or happiness. If you love someone then show them through your actions. Let them know that they hold your heart. Words without actions are meaningless.

Peace, Love, & Light,

*I like writing about growth and evolution. I believe I have another post about it somewhere on my blog.*