Are YOU Growing?

With each year, we like to believe we’ve grown wiser. More mature. More grounded.

But growth isn’t measured by time alone.

As I approached my 38th birthday, I found myself reflecting not just on the year behind me, but on the five years before it. And instead of celebrating progress, my mind went straight to everything I hadn’t done.

“I’m not where I’m supposed to be.”
“I’ve failed.”

That kind of self-talk is dangerous. I know that now. And even then, I caught myself. We are often our own toughest critics. Reflection is healthy, but only if we don’t stop at the negative.

Here’s the truth I had to face:
failure is not the opposite of success. It’s part of it.

I had failed at relationships. At business ideas. At health goals.
And during that same season, life hit harder than I was prepared for.

My father passed away unexpectedly. The kind of loss that shakes your entire foundation and still echoes years later. Shortly after, I was laid off from a long-term role I had poured myself into. Senior leadership. Long hours. Sacrifice. A week before Christmas. No severance. Benefits ending on December 31.

I had just purchased a home. My expenses had increased. The timing made no sense.

I was shocked. Then angry. Then deeply sad.
And then I was tired.

There were financial hurdles. Legal battles I didn’t see coming. Anxiety. Stress. The quiet desire to run away and start over.

But that wasn’t an option.

And then… I heard God.

Not audibly. But clearly.

What I thought was happening to me was actually happening for me. Losing that job wasn’t a setback. It was a release.

I had been fighting battles that were never mine to carry. Trying to push through seasons that required surrender. And when I finally stopped resisting, everything shifted.

I returned to prayer, intentionally. Before my feet touched the floor each morning and throughout the day. I changed my environment. I became honest about the people draining my energy without ever depositing support or encouragement.

I changed how I handled money.
How I viewed work, career, and income.
How I protected my time, my family, and my health.

I stopped trying to be everything to everyone and focused on what was essential.

Every perceived failure became a lesson.
Every loss sharpened my discernment.
Every setback clarified my priorities.

Five years later, I live differently.

Not perfectly.
But intentionally.

And one of the greatest blessings along the way was the arrival of my daughter, Lauriel. She brought joy, renewal, and a deeper sense of purpose to our family.

Today, my life is centered on God, family, health, and wealth — in that order — and by design.

My goal is simple:
To live a life I love now.
To leave a strong legacy for my children and future generations.
And to inspire others to rise, grow, and walk forward with intention.

If you’re in a season that feels like failure, pause before labeling it.

It may be clarity.

Great peace and blessings,
Robin