The Lotus and Letting Go

One of my favorite flowers is the lotus—not just for its beauty, but for what it represents.
A lotus does not bloom in clear waters. It rises from the mud, pushing through the darkness, unfolding slowly, untouched by the filth it came from.
I think about that often. About how growth isn’t always graceful. How sometimes, you have to wade through the mess, let go of what no longer serves you, and trust that you are still becoming. 

There was a time I held onto beliefs that kept me stuck—cycles of negativity, habits that weighed me down, ideas that told me I had to stay the same. But I no longer believe in speaking poorly of myself, in carrying burdens that aren’t mine to bear, in staying where I don’t belong just because it’s familiar.
Growth is shedding. Growth is unlearning. Growth is stepping into the unknown and trusting you will bloom anyway.
Like the lotus, I am still rising.