You’re pushing. You’re striving. You’re giving it your all. But where’s the big win? The payoff you’ve been chasing?

You feel like you’re in an endless loop of struggles, going round and round in circles. Getting nowhere.

That dream feels like it’s always just out of reach.

And then it starts—that nagging voice in your head:

“Is any of this actually working?” “Am I just fooling myself?” “Am I stuck in a loop?”

🚨 Stop. Take a breath. Zoom out. Look again. 🚨

What if you’re not just spinning your wheels? What if you’re actually moving upward, spiraling higher?

The Illusion of Circles

Here’s the thing about spirals: When you’re in the middle of it, it feels like repetition. Like you’re reliving the same day, over and over.

But step back for a moment. Each turn isn’t the same as the last. It’s a little bit higher. A new perspective.

Your brain might not notice this upward movement because growth is subtle. It’s not a sudden explosion; it’s a slow, quiet, constant shaping.

Reframe Your View: Zoom Out

Next time you feel like you’re on a hamster wheel, running tirelessly but seemingly getting nowhere, ask yourself:

• What am I doing differently today than six months ago?
• What fears have I faced that used to freeze me?
• Where am I saying “no” now, when I used to say “yes” just to please others?

Write these things down. You’ll start to see a pattern.

Your spiral isn’t random. It’s by design.

What If You Worked With Your Problems Instead of Against Them?

Real Signs You’re Rising

Progress often whispers; it doesn’t shout. Look for these quiet shifts, these powerful indicators that you are indeed ascending:

• Boundaries: You’re no longer letting people walk all over you. (Notice how much lighter and freer that feels?)
• Opinions: You’ve stopped obsessing over what others think. (Who cares what Karen thinks anymore? Your peace is more valuable.)
• Control: You’re not wasting energy trying to fix things you can’t, like traffic or the weather. (That’s called surrender—not defeat, but a wise redirection of your power.)
• Cringe Factor: Something you said or did six months ago makes you wince now. (Good. That means you’ve leveled up and gained new wisdom.)
• Beginner Mindset: You’re okay with looking like you don’t know everything. (Because true mastery begins with humility and a willingness to learn.)
• Resilience: You bounce back faster from setbacks, seeing them as lessons, not failures. (Your spirit is becoming unbreakable.)
• Inner Peace: You find moments of calm amidst the chaos, experiencing less anxiety and more quiet confidence. (This is the true reward of your journey.)
• Authenticity: You’re living more truly to yourself, shedding expectations and embracing who you are becoming. (This is your unique path unfolding.)

These aren’t random changes. They’re profound milestones. They show you’re gaining altitude and evolving into a stronger, wiser version of yourself.

Final Thought

So, the next time you feel like you’re stuck, remember this: You’re not trapped in a circle. You’re on a journey of elevation. You’re climbing. Just remember to glance back once in a while.

Because the view from up here? It’s absolutely breathtaking.

As Hermann Hesse beautifully wrote in Siddhartha: “We are not going in circles, we are going upwards. The path is a spiral; we have already climbed many steps.”

Keep moving. Keep rising.