The Phase No One Prepares You For

in Ladies of Hive2 hours ago

Becoming, One Day at a Time

Hello ladies,

I want to talk about something many of us are experiencing, even if we don’t always have the words for it. It’s that quiet phase of life where you’re not who you used to be, but you’re also not yet who you’re becoming. You wake up every day, do what needs to be done, smile when required, and keep moving even when inside, a lot is shifting.There’s something strange about this season. From the outside, it can look like nothing is happening. No big announcements. No loud success stories. No dramatic changes. Just you, living your life, handling your responsibilities, and learning as you go. But inside, something is changing. Slowly. Deeply. Many women are in this place right now. A place where you’re questioning old beliefs, old patterns, old relationships, and even old versions of yourself. Things you once accepted without thinking now make you pause. Things you once tolerated now feel heavy.And things you once chased no longer excite you the same way. This phase can feel confusing. You might not be sad, but you’re not exactly happy either. You’re just… aware. Aware of yourself. Aware of what drains you. Aware of what you no longer want. Awareness can be uncomfortable because once you see clearly, you can’t unsee.As women, we’re often expected to have it all together. To know what we’re doing. To be strong, patient, kind, and dependable all at once. But no one really talks about the in-between seasons. The seasons where you’re learning through experience, not advice. The seasons where life is teaching you quietly, sometimes painfully, but honestly. There are days when you feel like you’re doing well, and days when you feel like you’re just managing. Both days matter. Both days count. Not every day needs to be productive for it to be meaningful. Sometimes, showing up is enough.One thing I’m learning is that change doesn’t always come with noise. It doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes, it comes in the form of boundaries you finally keep. Sometimes, it comes as silence where you used to over-explain. Sometimes, it comes as choosing peace instead of proving a point. You begin to notice that you don’t react the way you used to. Things that once pulled you into unnecessary stress no longer have the same power over you.You start choosing what deserves your energy and what doesn’t. Not because you’re cold or distant, but because you’ve learned that your peace is valuable. This stage of life can also feel lonely. Not because you don’t have people around you, but because you’re no longer connecting to things the same way. Conversations that once excited you may now feel empty. Certain environments may start to feel uncomfortable.You might even outgrow spaces you once loved. And that’s okay. Outgrowing things doesn’t mean they were bad. It just means they served their purpose at that time. Letting go doesn’t erase the memories; it simply makes room for what aligns with who you are now. Many women struggle with guilt during this process. Guilt for changing. Guilt for saying no. Guilt for choosing themselves. But choosing yourself is not selfish. It’s necessary. You can’t keep pouring from an empty place and expect to stay whole. There’s also a lot of unlearning that happens here.Unlearning the need to please everyone. Unlearning the belief that your worth is tied to how much you do for others. Unlearning the idea that rest means laziness. Unlearning the habit of being hard on yourself. You start realizing that being gentle with yourself doesn’t make you weak. It makes you honest. Life is already demanding enough without you being your own harshest critic.This season teaches patience. Not the kind of patience that waits quietly for things to change, but the kind that allows you to take things one step at a time. The kind that reminds you that not everything needs to be figured out today. You begin to understand that life is not a race. Everyone is moving at a different pace, carrying different responsibilities, facing different challenges. Comparing your journey to someone else’s only steals your joy and peace. Some days, progress looks like clarity.Other days, it looks like rest. Some days, it looks like courage. Other days, it looks like choosing not to give up. All of it matters. There’s beauty in becoming, even when it feels uncertain. There’s strength in showing up, even when you don’t have all the answers. And there’s grace in allowing yourself to evolve without pressure. If you’re in this phase of life, know that you’re not alone. Many women are quietly becoming better versions of themselves, not through perfection, but through awareness, honesty, and experience.You don’t need to rush this process. You don’t need to explain it to everyone. You don’t need to have a title for it. Just allow yourself to grow into who you are meant to be, one day at a time. Thank you for reading.