The Pros and Cons of Being on a Self-Development Journey (Spoiler: It's a Wild Ride)

So, you’ve decided to go on a self-development journey. Congratulations! Welcome to the world of introspection, growth, and realising just how many of your problems are your own fault (ouch) and that maybe, just maybe, that person had a point when they called you bat shit crazy. It’s not all bad though—becoming the best version of yourself has some serious perks. But let’s not pretend it’s all meditation, journaling, and instant happiness. There are definitely some bumps along the way. So, here’s a light-hearted look at the pros and cons of leveling up.

Pro: You become more self-aware.

You start catching yourself in your old habits like, “Ah, there I go, spiraling into anxiety because someone didn’t text back.” Progress! You’re noticing your own patterns and stop yourself before you said the “why don’t you love me anymore” text… you’re seeing growth.

Con: You become too self-aware.

Suddenly, you can’t do anything without overthinking it. "Was that an anxious attachment response or did I just really want pizza?" “Is that person just a dick or are they displaying narcissistic/ dismissive avoidant traits…” Your brain is in overdrive analysing every little thing. And yeah, it gets exhausting. And yes people will get irritated when you offer them your analysis of their flaws.

Pro: You feel empowered.

You realise you're in control of your life and how you react to things. You’re setting boundaries, saying “no” to toxic people, and it feels daaaamn good. You might even start using phrases like “protecting my energy,” which gives off strong ‘I have my life together’ vibes.

Con: People start noticing.

Your friends are like, “Why are you so calm and not your normal fun crazy self?” or “Why do you keep saying ‘no’ to happy hour?” Suddenly, you’re the weird one because you’re out here trying to heal your trauma instead of drinking it away. Annoying.

Pro: You attract better things into your life.

The more you level up, the more aligned you become with people and opportunities that match your energy. It's like suddenly you're a magnet for good vibes, success, and maybe even someone who sends regular good morning texts.

Con: Old you throws a tantrum.

Meanwhile, the part of you that’s still stuck in your old habits is like, “Wait, why aren’t we texting the ex at 1 a.m. anymore?!” Growth means shedding your old skin, but old habits die hard, and sometimes it feels like you're dragging your past self kicking and screaming into the future.

Pro: You start to genuinely enjoy being alone.

You’re no longer looking for validation from other people, and you're learning how to love your own company. You’ve got your candlelit baths, your stack of self-help books, and life is starting to feel more peaceful.

Con: But then you're like, wait... Am I becoming a hermit?

At some point, you might realise you haven’t seen another human in three days because you’re too busy leveling up. There's a fine line between enjoying solitude and forgetting what sunlight feels like.

Pro: You feel genuinely happy for others.

When you see someone else thriving, you no longer feel that twinge of jealousy. You’ve let go of comparison and can finally clap for other people’s success, you know if they can do it, you can do it too. You’re like the ultimate hype person.

Con: But… no one warned you about all the crying.

Growth is messy ok? All this inner work opens the floodgates, and suddenly you're crying over things you buried back in 2007. It’s like, “Wait, I signed up for self-improvement, not an emotional avalanche!” Buuuuut it’s part of the process (just try not to be like Bruce Willis in Friends… IYKYK).

Pro: You start to like yourself more.

As you grow, you realise you’re actually kind of awesome. You're proud of the work you’ve put in, and slowly but surely, that inner critic gets quieter. You start treating yourself with the love and respect you used to give away to everyone else.

Con: But you still mess up sometimes.

Spoiler alert: You’re still human. There will be days when you fall back into old habits or have a minor meltdown over something dumb. And that’s ok! Self development doesn’t mean you become perfect or stop having negative feelings or shitty days. But the good news is, now you know how to bounce back faster and you’re definitely not back to square one!

Being on a self-development journey is like riding a rollercoaster—there are highs, lows, and moments where you scream, “Why the fuck did I get on this thing?!” But in the end, you come out stronger, more self-aware, and with a newfound respect for your own resilience. So buckle up, keep going, and try to enjoy the ride… even when it’s a little bumpy.