Not Every Day Is Thriving—and That’s Perfectly Fine
If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram or TikTok, you’ve likely seen posts from people who seem to have it all figured out. They wake up at 5 AM, meditate, exercise, journal, and run thriving businesses—all before breakfast.
While these routines can inspire, they can also set unrealistic expectations. The truth is, personal growth isn’t linear. There will be days when you feel unstoppable and days when just getting through feels like a challenge.
This is where the Hierarchy of Needs for Personal Growth comes into play.
The Hierarchy of Needs for Personal Growth
Personal growth can be broken into four key levels:
1. Survival: Taking Care of the Basics
On survival days, your main goal is meeting your basic needs. This might mean eating a nourishing meal, getting enough sleep, or simply taking a moment to breathe.
These days aren’t setbacks—they’re essential. Without addressing your foundational needs, it’s impossible to move forward.
2. Baby Habits: Building the Foundation
Once your survival needs are met, the next step is creating small, sustainable habits. These could be as simple as drinking a glass of water each morning or spending five minutes journaling.
Consistency matters more than perfection here. Baby steps build momentum.
3. Add One New: Expanding Your Practices
At this stage, you’re ready to layer in something new. Maybe it’s a 10-minute meditation practice, a gratitude journal, or a short daily walk. The key is to avoid overloading yourself.
Small, intentional changes are far more effective than trying to overhaul your entire routine at once.
4. Thriving: Flowing with Confidence
Thriving is the stage we all strive for—those days when everything feels aligned, and you’re in a state of flow.
But here’s the thing: thriving isn’t meant to be constant. It’s a milestone, not the finish line. Life’s natural rhythms will pull you back to the earlier stages from time to time, and that’s part of the journey.
Why It’s Okay to Be in Survival Mode
It’s easy to feel like you’ve failed when you’re not thriving, but every stage of growth is valuable. Survival days remind us to slow down, check in with ourselves, and address our foundational needs.
Remember: personal growth isn’t about achieving a specific destination. It’s about learning to adapt, grow, and show yourself grace no matter where you are on the journey.
Tips for Embracing the Ebbs and Flows of Personal Growth
1️⃣ Practice Self-Compassion
When you’re having an off day, talk to yourself the way you’d comfort a friend. Replace self-criticism with kindness.
2️⃣ Celebrate Small Wins
Even on tough days, find one thing to celebrate. Did you drink water? Step outside? Those wins count!
3️⃣ Reassess Your Priorities
Survival days often signal the need to refocus. What truly matters right now? Let go of the nonessentials.
4️⃣ Stay Consistent with Baby Habits
Even on survival days, try to maintain one or two small habits that ground you, like brushing your teeth or practicing gratitude.
5️⃣ Remember the Bigger Picture
Thriving is a process, not a permanent state. Trust that the steps you take today are paving the way for future growth.
Final Thoughts: Growth Isn’t Linear—and That’s Okay
Life is messy, unpredictable, and full of twists and turns. But every step—whether it’s surviving, building habits, adding something new, or thriving—is part of your personal growth journey.
Instead of striving for perfection, embrace where you are today. There’s beauty in the process, even on the hard days.
If this resonates with you, share your thoughts in the comments or tag me on social media—I’d love to hear your take on this!
If you find the more often than not you are stuck in survival mode, reach out to me! Let’s chat about how we can help equip you with the skills necessary to move past survival days and start THRIVING.
