Here’s what I’ve learned after writing 12 books, navigating countless pivots and watching life unfold in unanticipated ways:
The middle is where the transformation actually happens.
Not the beginning—that’s just the spark. Not the ending—that’s just the reveal.
The middle? That’s where you:
- Question everything you thought you knew
- Discover strengths you didn’t know you had
- Learn to trust yourself even when you can’t see the path
- Become someone you weren’t when you started
The middle is uncomfortable, uncertain and sometimes scary.
And let’s consider something radical: What if your messy middle season is what’s required to grow you into a person who can navigate the best chapters ahead with wisdom, poise and resilience? What if you need to go through “this” to be prepared to honor and elevate “that?”
What if the timing of your life is exactly right—even when it doesn’t match your plan?
I’ve learned in my toughest seasons to breathe through it, pray through it, lean on the tenets of my faith and rest in the hope that my resilience and hope will see me through.
Doing this has given me permission to stay in the present, to be in the middle of my story and to intentionally nurture myself. I’ve found the courage to not have it all figured out – to change my mind, alter my path and rewrite the plan.
I’ve surrendered to being in progress, without perfection; to trust that where I am is exactly where I need to be as my life actively unfolds.
And that’s not something to apologize for – that’s something to honor.
As the year winds down and a new one approaches, let’s ask ourselves:
“What wants to unfold in me next?”
Not: What do I need to force or fix or figure out?
What’s already trying to emerge if I just give it space?
Not: Where should I be by now?
Where am I being invited to go next??
I believe in you – in us!
So write your vision, speak life into it and embrace the positives in your present on the way to your next chapter.
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Still Unfolding with Stacy Hawkins Adams 