Slowing Down to Grow Up

We live in a culture that glorifies speed. We measure progress by how quickly we arrive, how much we’ve achieved, and how efficiently we can pivot to the next thing. But what if going slow isn’t a sign of falling behind—but of finally catching up to yourself? I’ve been learning this firsthand in the quiet work of changing careers. Leaving one professional identity behind and stepping into a new one isn’t a flashy transformation. It’s humbling. It’s slow. It asks you to revisit foundational questions: Who am I becoming? What matters most now? What if success is no longer defined by climbing—but by deepening? There’s something profoundly human about growing up slowly. It’s not that growth isn’t happening—it’s that it’s happening beneath the surface. Like the slow formation of roots before the tree rises. Like learning to breathe again in a new rhythm. At times, I’ve wondered if I’m behind. If I should have figured things out sooner. But I’m learning that the real work—the kind that shapes not just your career but your character—can’t be rushed. When we slow down, we begin to notice. We notice the details, the people, the inner movements of our thoughts. We see more clearly what aligns with our values and what no longer does. Slowness doesn’t equal sloth—it requires a different kind of discipline: one of presence, patience, and purposeful attention. I’m still in the middle of this transition. Still learning new skills. Still wrestling with the uncertainty that comes from not having a perfectly defined next step. But I’ve come to see that going slow doesn’t mean standing still. Going slow means going deep. It means allowing space for real change to take root. It means reclaiming time as something sacred, not something to be outrun. It means believing that becoming who you’re meant to be is worth the wait. So if you find yourself in a similar season—between what was and what will be—I hope you’ll allow yourself the grace to grow slowly. You’re not behind. You’re becoming. And that, I’ve come to believe, is its own kind of success.