The Art of Who You Are Still Meant to Be | Volume 1, Edition 22

This week in Lead Anew: Insights & Growth, we explore the quiet, powerful truth that we are never truly finished. Growth doesn't stop when we reach a milestone; it deepens. Slow down, let go of the illusion of “arrival,” and embrace the ongoing process of change with grace, courage, and curiosity, because becoming is not a destination; it is the story still being written. 

Have any of you ever had the idea that “one day I will arrive”? That if you worked hard enough, checked all the boxes, and hit the right milestones, life would settle into something complete and fully realized. But life has a way of smiling at our plans. Every time I thought I had arrived, something new began, another lesson, another layer, another version of myself waiting to be discovered. That realization was both humbling and freeing because becoming is not something we finish. It is something we live. 

Many of us pursue the idea of a finish line. We tell ourselves, “When I get that promotion, I’ll finally feel confident.” Or “When the kids are grown, I’ll have time for myself.” We say, “When things slow down, I’ll finally be happy.”  

The truth is, there is no “when.” There is only now, this moment, this version of you, this chapter of your story. Arrival is an illusion that keeps us running on autopilot. Becoming is the antidote. It encourages us to grow with purpose instead of haste. 

Becoming lives in the in-between spaces, the transitions, the pauses, the uncomfortable middle where clarity is forming but not yet visible. In our culture of quick results and instant validation, we often rush through these seasons. But the middle is where transformation happens. The pause between who you were and who you are becoming is sacred space. It is where resilience is built, where faith deepens, and where the next version of you quietly begins to take shape. 

There was a time when I resisted the in-between. I wanted certainty, not process. But life handed me detours that I didn’t ask for, returning to school years later, shifting roles in healthcare, launching a business, and writing books that told the truth about reinvention. All of it required me to live inside the uncertainty of becoming. I used to think transformation would come with clarity first and courage second. What I have learned is the opposite. Courage comes first. Clarity follows. Becoming rarely feels glamorous while you are in it. It looks like questions, mistakes, small steps, and learning how to trust the process instead of forcing the outcome. 

The best leaders aren't the ones who have all the answers; they're the ones willing to keep growing. They don't cling to who they were five years ago; they evolve with intention. When leaders stop growing, their teams do too. When leaders embrace being learners again, they foster cultures of curiosity instead of fear. I often tell my teams that growth doesn't mean perfection—it means progress. When people feel safe to be in the process, innovation occurs. Becoming isn't just personal work; it's leadership work. 

Somewhere along the way, we were taught that being “put together” is the goal. But there is beauty in being unfinished. There is strength in being honest enough to say, “I am still learning.” You do not have to have it all figured out to move forward. You just must be willing to take the next faithful step. Becoming encourages you to hold both gratitude and growth—to celebrate how far you have come while remaining open to what is next. 

In midlife, the idea of becoming changes. It's less about climbing ladders and more about exploring depth. It's less about striving and more about letting go. This season asks new questions. What have I been holding on to that no longer fits? What stories am I ready to release? Who am I becoming now that I no longer need to prove myself? The answers evolve as we do, and that is the point. The second season is not a plateau; it is an evolution, guided by wisdom gained through both triumph and trial. 

Becoming is slow work. It unfolds in quiet, steady ways. It lives in the courage to say no to what no longer aligns. It appears in the choice to rest instead of rush, in the humility to start over, and in the grace to forgive yourself for not knowing sooner. You do not have to see the entire path to know you are on it. Each small act of honesty, healing, and alignment shapes the person you are becoming. 

This week, spend a few minutes reflecting. Are you still chasing the destination instead of appreciating the process? What are you learning in this in-between space? How can you honor your growth without rushing toward the next milestone? Write your answers in a journal or share them with someone who truly sees you. Sometimes speaking your becoming aloud helps it take root. 

You are not a finished product. You are a story in progress. Becoming is not about reaching a destination; it’s about alignment. The in-between moments are not wasted time; they are sacred space. Leadership that embraces becoming encourages others to grow, and growth is not about how fast you go; it’s about how deep you go. 

The beauty of becoming is that it never truly ends. Each version of you holds onto wisdom from the past and embraces curiosity for what’s ahead. There is no final draft, only unfolding and evolution. Allow yourself to be unfinished and trust the process, even in silence. You are still becoming, and that's where the beauty lives. 

✨ Until next time, may you lead anew with grace for your process and gratitude for your becoming. 

Lead Anew With Kim 

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