So often, we think of personal growth as a linear journey. We believe that the moment we awaken to the idea that something needs to change, we can simply take the steps needed and become the version of ourselves we want to be.

But in truth, growth isn’t linear. It unfolds in stages, and we don’t always move through them in a straight line. Sometimes, we take a little longer that we’d like in certain stages or we find ourselves revisiting stages we thought we had already moved past.

Yet every stage, every ebb and flow, is an essential and inherent part of our journey of becoming. Because growth isn’t just about the before and after. Growth is like a spiral, an expanding circle, where the version of ourselves we want to become holds and honors all the versions we’ve been along the way.

The hidden stages of personal growth that people don’t often talk about are: The Nudge, The Shedding, The Rooting, The Void, The Blossoming, and The Embodiment. Here’s what each stage encompasses and how you can gently navigate them as they unfold.

Stage 1: The Nudge

The start of every personal growth journey is The Nudge.

The Nudge can feel like a sudden awakening or realization, or as its name suggests, a quiet intuitive nudge that something needs to change — whether that’s shifting your mindset, quitting unhealthy habits and adopting healthier ones, or unlearning beliefs and patterns that no longer serve you.

During this stage, we often feel called to make a change but we may not always know what exactly it is we need to change, why we need to make a change, or how to make a change.

One way to navigate this stage is to keep an open mind and allow yourself to be guided by your intuition. Explore different resources that may guide you on your path. This may be trying new experiences, reading books, using guided journals that can help you to dig deeper and reflect, and so on.

By allowing yourself to explore and be led by that inner nudge, you’ll be able to gain greater clarity and awareness on where you’re headed and the steps to take.

Stage 2: The Shedding

As you follow your inner calling, cultivate deeper self-awareness, and gently take the steps to change, you’ll enter the next stage of growth, known as The Shedding.

Like how some animals shed their old skin to renew themselves, or how trees lose their leaves to grow new ones, this is the stage where we start to prune away and release old beliefs, patterns, and habits that no longer align with who we’re becoming so we can make space for the new.

One of the obstacles you may face during this stage is resistance. Humans are creatures of habit, and we are inclined to stick with what feels safe and familiar, even if it no longer serves us. Hence, having to unlearn and let go of the old can evoke feelings of discomfort, fear, grief, or a sense of loss. You may also find yourself repeating the very patterns and beliefs that you’re trying to unlearn. All of these are a natural part of the process.

To navigate this stage, allow yourself to feel all the feelings that arise. Remember to observe, not absorb — your feelings are valid, but they do not need to dictate the direction you take. Also, be kind and patient with yourself even if it feels like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back. Allow yourself to try again, and again, no matter how many times it takes. Stay anchored in your why and the version of you that you’re becoming. A mantra you can use to anchor yourself is: I’m not losing who I am, I’m growing into who I was always meant to be.

To support your process of shedding the old, you can also create supportive structures that enable your new self, not your old self, to thrive. For instance, if you want to sleep earlier instead of doomscroll, you can schedule your Wi-Fi to turn off at a set time. Using guided journals, like the Where I Heal Journal, can also help you to unlearn old patterns and beliefs through structured prompts.

Stage 3: The Rooting

After shedding the old, you create space for new beliefs and habits to take root, which brings us to our next stage of growth – The Rooting.

As you practice embodying your new mindset, integrating more positive habits into your life, adopting new beliefs, and showing up differently, these little daily shifts begin to take root within you.

Like how roots take time to grow beneath the surface before the flower blooms, the fruits of your efforts may not always be immediately visible at this stage.

To navigate this stage, practice patience and consistency. Keep showing up for yourself even if you don’t see results yet. Trust that unseen internal transformations are taking place and know that you’re building strong foundations for the person you’re becoming.

Stage 4: The Void

In between internal transformations occurring and experiencing outward results, we often experience a gap. We’re not who we used to be, but we aren’t who we want to be yet. This stage of growth is known as The Void.

This in-between space can feel disorienting and unsettling. It can cause you to doubt the steps you’ve taken and question if you’re on the right path. But it’s important to give it time. Even if you’ve shifted internally, it can take time for external results to align.

To navigate this stage, learn to focus on how far you’ve come rather than how far more you have to go. If you slow down, turn inward, and observe closely enough, you’ll be able to notice the roots that have grown.

If you’ve been meditating consistently, even if you haven’t experienced a dramatic sense of inner peace, you’ll notice that a quiet anchor is growing.

If you’ve been exercising consistently, even if you don’t yet see changes to your physique or experience significantly better health, you’ll notice that you feel a little happier and feel more energized each day.

Remember to focus on the roots that have grown, not the flowers that have yet to bloom.

Stage 5: The Blossoming

After the quiet of the in-between, something beautiful begins to emerge as we step into our next stage of growth – The Blossoming.

This is the stage where your external reality begins to align with your new inner state. The habits you cultivated, the beliefs you rewrote, and the parts of yourself that you nurtured begin to manifest outwardly in your life. Often, the improvements and benefits we initially sought out create ripples into other areas of our lives too.

Maybe you started meditating to reconnect with your inner peace, but you may also notice your relationships improve as you learn to show up more patiently. Maybe you started exercising to be healthier, but you may also notice that you’re now more disciplined in your work.

During this stage, it’s important to celebrate yourself and acknowledge how far you’ve come. Now, you may truly begin to appreciate the notion of how you’re the creator of your own reality.

Stage 6: The Embodiment

The Embodiment is the stage where you come to realize that you’re no longer acting in the ways of the person you want to be, you are being the person you want to be.

The daily rituals and habits no longer feel effortful, the new mindset is automatic and doesn’t require conscious reinforcement, and you feel and move differently through life because these new shifts have already become a part of who you are. You are embodying who you want to be.