No one thanks you for helping them grow.
At least, not in the moment. Growth is uncomfortable.
It threatens identity. It disrupts safety.
It exposes things people would rather not see, about themselves, about their habits, about how others perceive them. When you gently challenge someone, they might go quiet.
When you speak a hard truth, they might push back.
When you nudge someone out of their comfort zone, they might get… angry. It doesn’t mean you got it wrong.
Often, it means you’re right on time. Because the strongest emotional reactions?
They’re usually signs of friction between who someone is, and who they want to become. Your job isn’t to avoid that discomfort.
Your job is to walk with them through it. You won’t always get a thank-you.
But sometimes, years later, you’ll get a message that says, “You changed the way I saw myself.” And that’s better than a thank-you. Until next time,
Dermot
The Messy Middle ✉️ Enjoying The Messy Middle?
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