The Messy Middle: Part 4 - The becoming

The final part of "the messy middle"... the becoming. The wobble may have thrown you off for a moment, but you’ve picked yourself back up. You’ve remembered where you’re headed - and why it matters. You've found a renewed sense of commitment and determination with your goal, your evolution.

This isn't the end - you're still in the messy middle - but something has changed. You can feel the shift. Where your initial motivation may have come from excitement, novelty, or the fresh start, the becoming is grounded in true alignment.

I wish I could say this is the finish line - that it’s all smooth sailing from here. But no, you’re still in it. It’s just not blind faith anymore, or ‘delulu’ expectations - you’ve been formed in the fire, and now you’ve got a little proof. You keep doing the doing and now you're starting to see the changes.

You're starting to see the growth.

There's a flicker of self-trust and a sense of self-confidence after finding your way through the wobble. And maybe even a win or two that would've gone unnoticed a few weeks ago.

Hope has returned - but this time, it's grounded.

The becoming is the home stretch, but that doesn’t mean it’s challenge-free. Wobbles will still happen. Life is still gonna life. The difference is that you know you can navigate them now and you know you're not turning back. You've been offered the temptation of staying as your old self and come out on top.

Neither is it going to be a quick and easy dash to "the finish line". This is returning to momentum and to making tiny nudges forward - not necessarily massive leaps. But you'll notice them. You’re attuned now: to your body, your energy, the subtle shifts. You’re noticing the small stuff.

This is the beautiful part - when your habits start to stick. When boundaries feel clearer. When you’re learning what works and what doesn’t, and making gentle tweaks that honour your evolving self.

This is where your new identity starts to grow deep roots. I know I used the seedling/root analogy back at the beginning but this is serious root growth (!!) - you know when you start to see them poking out the bottom of the pot and you know it's time to repot the plant? That's where you're at. Growing and evolving and outgrowing your old pot - for good.

For me, in this version of my messy middle, it's meant getting back to the gym. Holy guacamole it feels good to get back to my structure. To my routine. To the version of me that honours and prioritises her health.

I'll be completely honest though... it took a good two weeks of wobbling before I called it.

Working my way through the wobble gave me insight that I didn't have before, and it's also made me realise that I can't white-knuckle my way to a new identity. I'm taking the time to recognise what's working, what isn't, and tapping into my intuition even greater as this next evolution of myself.

And I'm now seeing the small changes. The way a heavier weight feels. The way my body felt working out after some pretty poor food choices (spoiler: not great...). And also in the way my clothes fit (scales be damned!). In my posture. Even in the way I take up space in the world.

You've made it this far. It's not an easy path - many turn back before this part - but it is so worth it. So take the time to celebrate your small signs of progress. Whether it's a mindset shift, not reacting when you normally would, not calling your ex, or (for me) a tiny win at the gym.

Celebrating the small stuff will keep you moving forward.

Now is also the time to reflect on what's helped you get here, what helped you get through the wobble (so you can do that again if/when needed), and consider what your definition of success looks like for now. Perhaps the goal posts need to shift as your identity does.

And, honestly, if you keep showing up with tenderness, compassion, and self-trust, your success is inevitable. The journey will take you exactly where you need to be. Show up in the unfolding and let life surprise you (just a little).

If you've made it this far, I hope you’ve realised something important: the messy middle isn’t something to rush through or skip over - it’s the part that shapes you. The invisible work, the waiting, the wobble, and the becoming: each phase carries its own wisdom. Each one asks you to trust yourself just a little more. And if nothing else, I hope this series reminded you that growth rarely looks glamorous, but it is always meaningful. Keep showing up. Keep listening inward. Keep evolving.

Missed the earlier posts in The Messy Middle?
Read Part 1: The Invisible Work
Read Part 2: The Waiting Game
Read Part 3: The Wobble