Seven Years Later: I Still Believe in Rising, But I Understand It Differently
Seven years ago, I wrote about rising, reclaiming power, fighting setbacks, and refusing to give up. I believed that whenever life made you feel stuck, you needed to remind yourself of your dreams, find your WHY, gather your strength, and start moving again.
I still believe in rising.
But if I were to write that article today, I would probably choose different words.
Not because the old ones were wrong, but because life has introduced me to a different understanding of motivation.
Back then, I thought motivation was about finding the strength to keep going. Today, I think it is equally important to understand when, why, and where we are going.
Motivation Isn't Always About Getting Back Up
There was a time when every setback felt like a challenge to overcome immediately. Every pause seemed like wasted time, and every moment of uncertainty called for a new plan.
I used to think that being strong meant refusing to stay down.
Now I wonder: what if sometimes we are not down at all? What if we are simply in a phase where the old direction no longer makes sense?
Not every pause needs a comeback story. Not every change in ambition is a loss of ambition. And not every unfinished dream deserves the same level of commitment it once received.
Sometimes, growing means changing the question.
Instead of asking, "How do I get back to where I was?" I find myself asking, "Do I even want to return to that version of my life?"
The Three Whys Have Changed
Seven years ago, I suggested asking three questions:
Why did I start? Why was it important? How far have I come?
I would still ask them, but I would add something.
Why am I continuing?
We often become so attached to the person who first imagined a dream that we forget to introduce that dream to the person we have become.
Our priorities change. Our experiences challenge our assumptions. We discover interests we never knew existed, and sometimes we outgrow goals that once defined us.
That doesn't make our earlier efforts meaningless.
It simply means we are allowed to evolve.
I No Longer See Every Day as a Comeback Opportunity
There is a difference between being disciplined and constantly demanding more from yourself.
Some days, progress looks like taking a difficult decision. On others, it means accepting that you cannot do everything at once.
Sometimes, it is starting something new. Sometimes, it is finishing something you have been postponing. And sometimes, it is recognising that you have been moving in the wrong direction and having the courage to reconsider.
I no longer think every morning needs to begin with a motivational speech.
Some mornings need a plan. Some need patience. Some need an honest assessment of what is working and what isn't.
And some simply need us to live without turning every experience into a lesson in productivity.
So, What Does Rising Mean to Me Today?
I still believe in dreams, ambition, hard work, and the possibility of creating a different life.
But I don't think reclaiming your power always means becoming louder, stronger, faster, or more determined than before.
It can mean becoming more thoughtful about where your energy goes.
It can mean choosing meaningful progress over visible progress, understanding yourself before setting another target, and being comfortable with the fact that your journey might not resemble the one you imagined seven years ago.
Perhaps the biggest change is this:
I no longer want motivation that convinces me I can conquer everything. I want the kind of understanding that helps me recognise what is actually worth pursuing.
Seven years ago, I wrote, "The time is now. Go all in."
Today, I would say:
The time is yours. Be intentional. Know what matters. Give it your best, but allow yourself the freedom to become someone who sees life differently along the way.
Because rising is not always about returning to your feet.
Sometimes, it is about discovering that you were meant to walk in a different direction all along.
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