Shrinking can be good for you.

Shrinking doesn’t mean failure. Quite the opposite in fact.

“Sometimes you need to shrink in order to grow.”

I read this in a newsletter from Sahil Bloom talking about mini paradoxes in life.

He says:

In order to grow, sometimes you need to shrink.

Growth is never linear. Shedding deadweight may feel like a step back, but it is a necessity for long-term growth.

One step back, two steps forward is a recipe for consistent, long-term success.

I know, shrinking can feel so cringe, especially when we’re told to do the complete opposite: be bold, build your own table, and take up necessary space -- something PermissionLESS is centered around.

So, why would we wanna shrink? That sounds counterintuitive, no?

If you’re always focused on growth and moving really fast in a certain direction (or, multiple directions) it’ll become harder to have self awareness around whether or not you need to “trim the fat” so to speak, and where to do so.

Looking at "what" "who" and even your "whys" that no longer fit into your current season, vision or path in life is absolutely necessary. And to do this, you may need to intentionally shrink -- take two steps back, in order to take one (more aligned) step forward.

Much like hair needs to be trimmed when the ends are a little frayed or (let’s be real) probably really dead in order to make way for fresh, stronger, more vibrant hair to exist -- your energy needs this too.

Shrinking doesn’t mean failure. Quite the opposite in fact.

It means getting rid of everything that no longer aligns with how and where you want to expand, so you can hyper-focus on the things that matter.

👉🏼 So, are you in a season where you need to shrink in order to grow again?

👉🏼 What does this look like for you?

👉🏼 Where can you reduce what you “have to do” that you no longer align with, in order to make way for more of what you “get to do”?

Something to ponder over the next few days if you’re taking a holiday break.

(I’ve been shrinking in order to grow, too, which is why I’ve been fairly quiet on the public front. 🙂)

PS: There are so many other good paradoxes shared in that newsletter, I could expand on all of them. Highly recommend reading it.

Cheers to living PermissionLESS,

Selena

The PermissionLESS email is 1 part inspiration, 2 parts sharing ways to take massive action in business & creativity, and all parts curiosity about growth, life and the universe. I love to chat with readers - hit reply and empty your mind into an email. I'm here for it. 🙌🏼

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