Why Feeling Like You’re Going Backwards is Actually a Sign You’re Growing

I was doing so good… and then BAM—it felt like I took 50 steps backwards.
My emotions were all over the place, old habits started creeping back in, and I was questioning everything I thought I knew.

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in reverse, I want to tell you something...it might not mean your stuck. it’s not failure. It’s expansion.

Growth Doesn’t Always Feel Like Growth

Here’s the hard truth—personal and professional growth rarely feels like a smooth climb up a mountain. Instead, it feels messy.

When you’re on the edge of stepping into your next version, your nervous system doesn’t feel safe. Why? Because you’re leaving the “old you” behind—your old habits, your old stories, your old comfort zones.

That resistance you’re feeling isn’t a sign that you’re broken.
It’s a sign that you’re breaking through.

The Slingshot Effect

Think of it like a slingshot.
To launch forward, the band has to be pulled back first.

Sometimes, God (or the universe—whoever you believe in) pulls you back. Not to punish you. Not to hold you down. But to catapult you into a higher version of yourself.

It’s in this “pull back” moment that most people give up. They misread the resistance, the setbacks, and the emotional breakdowns as proof they’re not cut out for the next level.
But what if those moments are exactly what you need to grow?

My Own Experience With “Breakdown Moments”

Every single time I’ve leveled up—whether in my business, my health, or my relationships—it started with what felt like a breakdown.

The time I walked away from a partnership that no longer aligned with me.
The moment I realized my health had to become a non-negotiable.
The seasons where I felt like I was losing everything I had worked for…

In each of those moments, it felt like I was going backwards. But in reality, I was being prepared for the next version of me. A version that was clearer, stronger, and more aligned with the life I truly wanted.

Why This Happens

When you’re growing, you’re rewiring your mind, body, and spirit to operate at a higher level. That’s uncomfortable. Your old patterns will fight to stick around. Your brain will try to convince you to go back to what’s familiar, even if that familiarity is what’s been holding you back.

This is why leveling up can feel like chaos:

• Your emotions might feel unstable.

• Old habits you thought you’d outgrown suddenly show up.

• You might feel confused or second-guess yourself.

But none of this means you’re failing.
It means you’re evolving.

The Breakthrough is Coming

Here’s what I’ve learned: after every breakdown moment, there’s always a breakthrough.

On the other side of the discomfort is:

• More clarity. You start to see what actually matters.

• More confidence. You prove to yourself that you can handle challenges.

• More alignment. You step into a version of yourself that’s closer to who you’re meant to be.

It’s all part of the process.

What To Do When It Feels Like You’re Going Backwards

The next time you feel like everything is falling apart, pause and ask yourself:
What if this is the moment right before everything shifts for me?

Because most of the time, it is.

Lean into the discomfort. Trust that the “pull back” of the slingshot is creating the momentum you need to launch forward. Instead of fighting it, ask yourself what lesson or clarity this moment is trying to give you.

You’re Not Failing. You’re Being Prepared.

If you’re in a season where you feel like you’ve lost momentum, remember:
You’re not broken. You’re not behind.
You’re simply being prepared for the next breakthrough.

If you’re ready to catapult into your next version and want guidance on how to align your life and goals to make it happen, let’s talk. Book a strategy session with me here.

Your next level isn’t as far away as it feels—it’s just on the other side of this stretch.