Rethinking Growth

I grew up with Lent and Easter as a deeply meaningful time. Not just as a religious tradition, but as a personal rhythm—an annual invitation to pause, reflect, and welcome new beginnings.

Over the years, that meaning has only deepened. Especially through my coaching work, where I see time and again how powerful it is when leaders and founders allow themselves a moment to stop.

Because here’s what I’ve learnt: We can always begin again.

But beginning again doesn’t always mean doing more.

The Pressure to Keep Going

A client said to me recently,

"I’ve done so much… I feel like I should have achieved more by now."

This quiet sense of dissatisfaction is something I hear often—particularly from high performers. The achievers. The drivers. The ones who always want to grow.

They’re not wrong for feeling that way. But they are often operating under the belief that growth must look like forward motion. Tangible outcomes. Constant productivity.

Yet real growth—the kind that transforms how we lead, live, and relate—doesn’t follow a neat, linear path. It doesn’t always show up as external success. And it doesn’t always come from taking more action.

The Power of the Pause

In fact, some of the most meaningful breakthroughs don’t begin with doing anything at all.

They begin with a pause. A deep breath. A quiet reflection.

And yes, sometimes even a sense of uncertainty or discomfort.

But that space—between what was and what’s next—is where transformation takes root.

🧠 What Neuroscience Tells Us

From a neuroscience perspective, this makes perfect sense.

When we allow ourselves to slow down and reflect, we activate the brain’s default mode network—a network responsible for:

• insight

• creativity

• long-term planning

• making meaning of our experiences

• 
  

It’s the part of the brain that becomes active when we’re not focused on doing. It thrives in moments of stillness and introspection.

If we never create space for this network to do its work, we can easily miss the bigger picture. Or overlook the subtle internal shifts that guide us towards what’s next.

Redefining What It Means to “Begin Again”

Beginning again doesn’t always look like jumping into action. Sometimes it means:

• Letting go of what’s no longer working

• Making space to feel what’s really there

• Trusting that clarity often arrives after the pause

In transitions—whether personal or professional—it’s tempting to rush into problem-solving. To fix, reframe, or re-strategise. But what if the most impactful move right now isn’t another strategy session?

What if it’s stillness?

What if the real work is in being with yourself, just as you are, without needing to prove or achieve?

A Gentle Invitation

If you’re in a moment of change—or even just sensing that something needs to shift—perhaps this is your season to pause.

To reflect.

To realign.

To let the next step emerge, rather than chase it.

Because we don’t grow by doing more. We grow by seeing more clearly.

By creating space.

By trusting the process.

Want to Go Deeper? Here Are Two Resources I Recommend:

📖 “The Pause Principle” by Kevin Cashman: A great read on the importance of pausing for reflective leadership. It explores how intentional reflection enhances presence, performance, and authenticity.

🎧 Podcast: "Unlocking Us" with Brené Brown – Episode on Day Two This episode captures the messy middle of any transition and why sitting in uncertainty is key to real transformation.

Invitation to Work Together.

I help leaders and founders navigate transitions and turn them into opportunities to thrive. Whether you're stepping into a new role, questioning what’s next, or simply feeling stuck, I offer coaching and training that helps you & your team slow down, reconnect, and move forward with clarity and purpose.

📩 If that resonates, feel free to reach out and let’s have a conversation. akatrin@kbccoaching.com

#ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #KBCcoaching #KindDisrupter #SciencemeetsSoul