Growing in Phases: It’s Ok Not To Be Whole All the Time

The Pressure to Always Be Your Best Self

I was always one of those people who believed in the cruciality of completeness. I thought that I had to be in a constant state of productivity to be my best self. But how did I get to that level of thought? Or, better yet, how did we get there? Because I think I’m not only speaking for myself but also for the many women who have felt the pressure to be wholesome.

Somewhere along the way, we were conditioned to believe that we were only worthy when fully illuminated. I mean, we are constantly bombarded with coaches, models, and other influential figures who always seem to have it together or figured out. It’s like they are so fixed in the illusion of perfection that no one really acknowledges the not-so-powerful moments. Those of weakness, darkness, or when we are growing in parts that accompany the human experience. Oh, how wrong we were to have allowed those distorted beliefs to take space in our minds. I mean, even the moon has phases of incompleteness, and yet it is still enough.

Because wholeness is not constant, and that is a natural truth.

The Beauty of Not Being Fully Lit

I like to compare the human experience to a crescent or quarter moon. We undergo moments of instability where we are rarely in a permanent fixed state. That’s the real truth of existing in a world of inconsistency, and it is within these circumstances that we are strengthened and refined.

Just like the moon, we too go through phases where growth and uncertainty are born. We are either healing, starting over, or simply in a waiting phase that feels eternal. But know that these are the very moments that must take place in order to be transformed, because none of us were meant to stay the same, and stagnation is never really a part of us, as we live most of our lives in progress, not completion.

Experiencing Moments of Completeness

Our efforts, sacrifices, and the grace of God have a way of showing us that disappointments are also not permanent because bad times don’t last. So many things can encourage us to feel a sense of wholeness. Maybe you were promoted at work and achieved a much-needed financial breakthrough, or you hit a weight-loss milestone that significantly improved your health; those are the moments when we feel most aligned and radiant, like a full moon in its completeness. But even the moon doesn’t always stay full, and it’s a good reminder of how necessary it is for it to change in order for it to reach its full illumination.

Closing Thoughts 

I believe that beautiful things happen when we allow ourselves to shift and transform. The moon shows us how beautiful it is to exist in phases and the power it reaps as it undergoes its many changes. So remember never to rush your phases of refinement, as they are indispensable to your course toward wholeness.

ABOUT ERIKA 

With over a decade of experience, Erika is a writer who believes words should do more than fill space — they should move people. Her work blends engaging, persuasive, and informative storytelling designed not only to capture attention, but to help readers learn, grow, and solve real-life problems. Whether she's breaking down complex ideas or crafting entertaining content, her goal is always the same: create writing that resonates and makes an impact.

Erika holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in journalism, a foundation that sharpened both her voice and her commitment to clarity, research, and meaningful storytelling.

When she's not writing, you'll likely find her spending time with family, tending to her garden, or experimenting in the kitchen with healthy, flavorful dishes - because creativity doesn't end on the page for her.

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