Growth is Awkward and Messy – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1176

Growth is Awkward and Messy – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1176

Dear Colleagues! This is Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #1176 for Pharma Veterans. Pharma    Veterans Blogs are published by Asrar Qureshi on its dedicated site https://pharmaveterans.com. Please email to pharmaveterans2017@gmail.com  for publishing your contributions here.

Credit: Andrea Piacquadio

Credit: Cesar Galeao

Credit: Franz Van Heerden

Credit: Lumier Studio MX

Preamble

Luara Gassner Otting says that “Growth is awkward. It’s messy. It’s not cute. But transformation lives on the bleeding edge of our incompetence. It’s where we stop playing small. Where we build new muscles. Where we do the messy, clumsy, gloriously hard work of becoming.”

This blog post is based on this quote and her arguments.

Embracing the Messy Path to Transformation

This quote doesn’t sugarcoat the journey of personal evolution. It doesn’t romanticize the struggle or wrap it in motivational fluff. Instead, it tells the raw truth: growth is uncomfortable, and transformation demands that we step into spaces where we feel least equipped. But it’s precisely in those spaces, on the bleeding edge of our incompetence, that we become something more.

The Myth of Graceful Growth

We often imagine growth as a graceful ascent. A linear path. A series of wins. But real growth rarely looks like that. It’s more like stumbling through a dark forest with no map, tripping over roots, second-guessing every step, and wondering if we’re even going in the right direction.

Think about learning a new skill, public speaking, coding, parenting, or even healing from emotional wounds. The beginning is always awkward. You fumble. You forget. You freeze. You feel exposed. And yet, these moments are not signs of failure. They are signs of stretching.

Growth is not a highlight reel. It’s the blooper reel. And that’s okay.

The Bleeding Edge of Incompetence

The phrase “bleeding edge of our incompetence” is both poetic and piercing. It refers to the place where we are most vulnerable, most unsure, and most likely to fail. It’s the edge of our comfort zone, where our current skills and knowledge no longer suffice.

But here’s the paradox: transformation doesn’t happen inside our comfort zone. It happens when we are forced to confront our limitations. When we’re asked to do something, we have never done before. When we’re stretched so thin we feel like we might snap.

This edge is not a place of shame; it’s a place of possibility. It’s where we stop pretending to have it all together. Where we admit we don’t know. Where we ask for help. Where we try, fail, and try again.

Building New Muscles

Growth is not just about acquiring new knowledge; it is about building new muscles. Emotional muscles. Mental muscles. Spiritual muscles. And just like physical training, this process is painful.

You don’t build strength by lifting what’s easy. You build it by lifting what’s heavy. By pushing through resistance. By showing up when you’d rather quit.

Whether it’s learning to set boundaries, speak your truth, or lead with vulnerability, the process will feel unnatural at first. You’ll wobble. You’ll fall. You’ll feel like a fraud. But every rep counts. Every awkward attempt is a step toward mastery.

Stop Playing Small

One of the most liberating parts of this quote is the call to stop playing small. Playing small means staying silent when you have something to say. It means shrinking your dreams to fit someone else’s comfort. It means hiding your light because you’re afraid it might blind someone.

But transformation requires boldness. It requires stepping into spaces where you feel unqualified and showing up anyway. It means risking embarrassment, rejection, and failure in pursuit of something greater.

Playing small might feel safe, but it’s suffocating. It keeps you stuck in a version of yourself that no longer fits. Growth demands that you outgrow your old shell—even if it means cracking it open.

The Psychology of Messy Growth

Psychologists call this space “the zone of proximal development”, the sweet spot between what you can do easily and what you can’t do at all. It’s where learning happens. But it’s also where frustration lives.

In this zone, you’re constantly bumping up against your limits. You’re making mistakes. You’re feeling inadequate. But you’re also expanding. Your brain is rewiring. Your identity is shifting. You’re becoming.

This process is messy because it involves unlearning old patterns and beliefs. It involves confronting fears, healing wounds, and rewriting narratives. It’s not cute. It’s not Instagrammable. But it’s real.

The Courage to Be Clumsy

We live in a culture that celebrates perfection. We’re taught to curate our lives, polish our personas, and hide our flaws. But growth requires the courage to be clumsy.

It means showing up to the dance floor even if you have two left feet. It means raising your hand even if your voice shakes. It means publishing your work even if it’s not perfect.

Clumsiness is not a weakness; it is a sign that you’re trying. That you’re daring to do something new. That you’re willing to look foolish in the name of becoming.

The Gloriously Hard Work of Becoming

Becoming is not a destination; it is a lifelong process. It is the daily decision to choose growth over comfort. To choose authenticity over approval. To choose courage over convenience.

It is hard work. Gloriously hard work. Because it is the work of shedding old skins, breaking old cycles, and stepping into your full power.

And while the process may be messy, the result is magnificent. You become someone who is not afraid to stretch, stumble, and soar. Someone who knows that the bleeding edge is not a place to avoid—but a place to embrace.

Walking the Path

So how do we walk this path of messy growth?

- Normalize discomfort: Expect it. Embrace it. Let it be a sign that you’re on the right track.

- Celebrate small wins: Every awkward attempt is progress. Every clumsy step is movement.

- Seek support: Growth is not a solo journey. Surround yourself with people who cheer your evolution.

- Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself in the process. You’re learning. You’re growing. You’re becoming.

- Stay curious: Ask questions. Explore. Play. Let your incompetence be a playground, not a prison.

Sum Up

Growth is not a tidy process. It’s not a straight line. It’s a spiral of setbacks, breakthroughs, and messy middle moments. But it’s also the most honest, courageous, and transformative journey you’ll ever take.

So, if you’re feeling awkward, messy, or clumsy right now – good. You’re growing. You’re on the edge. You’re becoming.

And that, my friends, is where the magic lives.

Concluded.

Disclaimers: Pictures in these blogs are taken from free resources at Pexels, Pixabay, Unsplash, and Google. Credit is given where available. If a copyright claim is lodged, we shall remove the picture with appropriate regrets.

For most blogs, I research from several sources which are open to public. Their links are mentioned under references. There is no intent to infringe upon anyone’s copyrights. If, any claim is lodged, it will be acknowledged and duly recognized immediately.

Reference:

laura.gassner.otting@limitlesspossibility.com