I Used To Think Chasing A Dream Was About Getting To The End Point.
You know—that moment when you’ve “made it,” when the work finally pays off, when you can exhale because you’re living the life you pictured.
But somewhere along the way, I realized that’s not where the magic is at all.
The Magic Is In The Middle
It’s in the part where you’re stumbling through new skills you never thought you’d have to learn, where the bank account looks scary, where you try something and it falls flat. It’s in those nights you feel invisible and wonder if you’re completely out of your mind for even trying.
And here’s the thing—those moments? They change you.
We live in a culture that’s obsessed with arriving. We measure success in cars, houses, followers, and income brackets. The message is constant: you’ll be happy once you have more. And even when you get to “more,” there’s always another rung on the ladder. It’s no wonder so many high-achieving women find themselves exhausted, unfulfilled, and still asking, “Why doesn’t this feel like enough?”
For years, I believed that pattern too—always striving, never resting, thinking the next milestone would finally bring the peace I wanted. But the truth is, constantly chasing without pausing to appreciate the becoming is a recipe for burnout and emptiness.
When I look back now, I’m grateful for every detour, every obstacle, every “not yet” I ran into.
They made me stronger. More patient. More resourceful. They turned me into the woman who could actually handle the dream I was chasing.
The Goal Is Working On Us
The funny part is, we think we’re just working toward a goal… but really, the goal is working on us.
The woman I was at the beginning wouldn’t have been ready for the life I have now. She didn’t have the resilience yet. She didn’t have the clarity. She didn’t have the problem-solving skills necessary to build true confidence and results.
But she kept going. Even on the hard days. Especially on the hard days.
If you’re in that messy middle right now—where nothing feels fast enough or easy enough—please hear me: this part matters more than you think. This is where you become the woman who’s ready for what you’re asking for.
So take a second and notice how far you’ve come. Celebrate the small wins. Let the challenges make you better instead of bitter.
Because one day, you’ll look back and realize that the journey didn’t just give you your dream—
It gave you.
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