It’s Okay to Outgrow the Space You’re In

“The truth is, you can love a season and still know it’s time to move on.”

For quite a while now, even though things have been comfortable and peaceful on the outside, I’ve felt an inner nudge to move in a new direction.

Nothing was wrong.

Life felt stable.

And yet, within me, there was a growing urge to do more — to stretch, to grow, to step into something new.

That feeling brought with it impatience… and fear.

I even found myself asking, “Why can’t I just stay where I am?”

But when it’s time for growth, the feeling doesn’t simply go away.

There’s a particular kind of restlessness many people experience — one that’s hard to explain.

You’re not unhappy exactly.

You’re not ungrateful.

Nothing is “wrong” on the surface.

And yet… something feels off.

What once fit now feels tight.

What once made sense now feels heavy.

And a quiet impatience begins to surface — not because you’re rushing, but because something inside you has shifted.

At the same time, fear creeps in.

Fear of what comes next.

Fear of making the wrong move.

Fear of leaving something familiar without knowing what you’re stepping into.

And so, you sit in the tension — wanting to move forward, but unsure how.

Here’s something important to name:

Impatience doesn’t always mean you’re dissatisfied.

Often, it means you’re outgrowing the space you’re in — even if you don’t yet have clarity about the next one.

And fear doesn’t always mean you’re not ready.

Sometimes it simply means the next phase hasn’t been fully revealed.

That combination — impatience and fear — is the hallmark of a transition.

Outgrowing a space can look like many things.

It might be a role that once stretched you but no longer challenges you.

A dynamic where you’ve learned all you can.

A mindset you’ve matured beyond.

A version of yourself that carried you through one season but can’t sustain the next.

You haven’t changed overnight.

You haven’t become difficult.

You haven’t failed.

You’ve grown.

And growth has a way of creating discomfort before it creates clarity.

What makes this season especially hard is that we’re often taught to wait for certainty before we move.

We want the full picture.

The reassurance.

The guarantee that the next phase will make sense before we leave the current one.

But growth rarely works that way.

Sometimes clarity follows courage — not the other way around.

And sometimes the most honest thing you can say is:

“I don’t know what’s next… but I know this no longer fits.”

That’s not weakness.

That’s awareness.

It’s also important to say this:

Outgrowing a space doesn’t always mean leaving immediately.

Sometimes it means:

• shifting how you show up

• redefining your boundaries

• releasing expectations, you’ve been carrying

• loosening your grip on identities that no longer align

• giving yourself permission to imagine something different

The shift often begins internally, long before anything changes externally.

You don’t have to rush the next phase.

But you do need to honour the truth of where you are.

Because ignoring growth doesn’t stop it —it only turns it into frustration.

You can be grateful for what a season gave you and honest that it’s ending.

Those two things can exist together.

Growth is not betrayal.

Change is not failure.

Evolution is not disloyalty.

It’s evidence that you’re listening to who you’re becoming.

So how do you navigate this in-between space?

Start with gentler questions:

• What might my impatience be trying to tell me?

• What am I afraid of losing — and what might I be gaining?

• What feels misaligned now that once felt right?

• Who am I becoming in this season?

Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t a decision.

It’s permission.

Reflection Question

Where in your life do you sense that you’re outgrowing a space — and what would it look like to honour that growth with patience and courage?

Prayer

If you pray:

“God, help me trust the growth You are doing within me. When impatience and fear collide, give me peace in the waiting, courage in the transition, and clarity as the next step unfolds. Help me honour where I’ve been and walk faithfully into who I’m becoming.”

Confidence Mantra

I am not being pushed — I am being prepared.

If you’re navigating the tension between staying and stepping forward — feeling impatient but unsure — you don’t have to walk through that alone.

Through my RISE coaching approach, I support people in seasons of transition to reconnect with identity, gain clarity, and move forward with confidence and purpose.

➡️ Connect with me — let’s honour your growth and prepare you for what’s next.

Best wishes

Adebola

I. Arise & Shine | iarisenshine.com

Coaching for Identity • Purpose • Resilience • Confidence