Is it possible to have a growth spurt at 47?

Maybe you've noticed I've been a little quieter lately and posted less. 

That's because I've been turning inward - giving more time and attention to my own personal development journey.

Over the past few months, I dove deep into some powerful healing processes, trying new forms of treatment, learning, and growing in ways I didn't fully anticipate. 

Living in the Netherlands has made this especially accessible - it's like an adult playground for self-discovery. Think: meditation circles, ecstatic dance, sound healing, energy cleanses, frequency festivals, and yes, even psychedelic breathwork ceremonies (totally legal and accessible).

I gave myself permission to really go in - to study, to feel, to experience, to process. And wow… There was a lot to process. 

Because asking questions doesn't always bring clarity right away, sometimes, it brings confusion first. Growth isn't always smooth or pleasant. It can be messy. It can feel like restlessness, unease, or like you're losing parts of yourself before new ones emerge.

It reminded me of how babies go through growth spurts, how their sleep is disrupted, and how they're fussier than usual and harder to soothe. If you're a parent, you know what I'm talking about. Well, lately, I've been feeling something similar. Like I'm stretching from the inside out.

In Positive Psychology, we talk a lot about how challenge and discomfort can become fertile ground for transformation. It's not about glorifying pain, it's about noticing that sometimes, when we allow ourselves to be with what's uncomfortable, something meaningful starts to shift. 

Growth doesn't always feel good in the moment. But over time, it can bring us back to ourselves. Stronger. Clearer. More aligned.

So I've been practicing what I often invite my clients to do: give space to the process. Let it unfold. Trust the timing. And above all - listen inward.

If you're in a phase where you feel quieter, more tender, or less productive - maybe you're growing, too. Maybe something inside you is shifting, even if you can't name it yet. That's okay.

So, here's your gentle reminder: you're allowed to pause. You're allowed to go inward. To take the time you need. To feel whatever is surfacing.

And yes, to meet a few inner demons along the way because healing rarely happens without them.

It's not always easy. But it's worth it. And if you're not quite sure what you're going through, but you know something is moving inside you - just be curious. 

Stay open. Give yourself compassion.

This time of inner work reminded me that growth begins when we dare to question, reflect, and explore. Through that brave curiosity, we build deeper self-awareness, strengthen acceptance, and move closer to who we really are.