When Progress Feels Heavy: The Other Side of Growth
In my last post, I reflected on what it means to build while balancing—to manage ambition, growth, and everyday life without losing yourself in the juggle. I talked about honoring my capacity, staying grounded while reaching forward, and letting go of perfectionism along the way.
Since then, something new has come up. Or maybe it’s something that’s always been there, waiting for me to notice it beneath the busy rhythm of “doing.”
It’s the emotional weight of progress itself.
Not the calendar invites, deadlines, or creative goals. Not the logistics of balancing multiple hats. But the quiet heaviness that lingers even when things are going well. The unexpected ache that shows up when you’ve hit the goals, checked the boxes, done everything right—and still feel like you’re carrying something unseen.
Lately, I’ve felt that weight.
At first, I tried to ignore it. After all, progress is supposed to feel good, right? But I’ve learned that growth doesn’t always come wrapped in clarity or confidence. Sometimes, it brings pressure. New expectations. A strange sense of disorientation that comes from becoming someone new, even when you chose that path.
I used to believe that arriving at certain milestones—career advancements, leadership opportunities, certifications—would unlock a deeper sense of self-assurance. I thought there would be a clear line between before and after. But I’ve found that each milestone just invites new layers of uncertainty, new questions about identity and direction. There’s no finish line—only the next step.
And that realization, while freeing in some ways, can also feel heavy.
This season has asked me to pause. Not in a performative way, not as a temporary “reset” so I can return to the hustle—but as a way of being. I’ve started asking myself harder questions, giving myself space to not know all the answers. I’ve been journaling more. Sitting with my thoughts without trying to solve them. Letting stillness be a part of my growth instead of treating it like a break from it.
This isn’t the kind of growth that gets celebrated publicly. It’s quieter. Internal. Slow. But it’s shaping me in ways that feel more lasting than any bullet point on a resume.
Miranda In Progress was never about perfection—it was always about becoming. And becoming isn’t always bright and exciting. Sometimes, it’s murky. It’s shedding. It’s being honest with yourself when things feel heavier than expected. It’s learning to trust your own timeline, even when the world around you is moving fast.
If you're in a season where growth feels heavy—where you’re proud, but also a little tired—know you’re not alone. This part is valid too. You don’t have to be grateful all the time. You don’t have to power through. Sometimes, being in progress means simply being present with all that you’re feeling.
You’re still becoming.
And that’s more than enough.
