As we approach the first day of Spring when all around us flowers and trees begin to blossom, it brings
to mind a passage In Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening regarding the pain of becoming. In this passage, Nepo shares his thoughts regarding how as humans we can be impatient with change and push ourselves to “unfold faster or more deeply than is natural.” He explains that “The simple rose, at each moment of its slow blossoming, is as open as it can be…if a flower were to push itself to open faster, which it can’t, it would tear.” This is a great reminder that transformation takes time. Rather than comparing where we are now with the end result that we are striving towards, which can lead to feelings of lack, we should appreciate that wherever we are in our path is enough. At each stage of growth and change, we are exactly where we need to be at that moment. During each step in the journey of blossoming, we are as stretched as we can be. I can be impatient with how long this process of becoming an entrepreneur is taking, however, each step along the way is a milestone. Each time I move forward, I learn something new that aids in the next stage of development. If we always push ourselves to move quickly and beyond what we are capable of at the time, we do ourselves a great disservice – it could lead to injury or illness and force us to move backwards rather than forward. When you feel yourself judging where you are against the imagined ideal you would like to become, pause and focus on the image of a flower that is budding. See the beauty of the early stages of blossoming. Then, as Nepo recommends, “inhale and appreciate the beauty of yourself about to open.” As we strive towards who we want to be, it can be difficult to recognize that at each step along the way, we are making progress. The process of “becoming” can be long and painful, however, it is a necessary part of growth.