Life Isn’t a Straight Line, It’s a Spiral..."the Stairway of Life"

Life often feels like a linear journey: a series of steps we take, a path we walk, each decision leading to the next. But as I reflect on my own life and experiences, I’ve come to realize that it’s not so simple. Life isn’t a straight line—it’s a spiral. A spiral that, if we’re lucky, always leads upwards, even if it feels like we’re going in circles at times.

We tend to see life as a series of “right” or “wrong” choices, moments we’re either succeeding or failing. We get stuck in thinking that things should always be moving forward in a straight line. But in reality, the moments when we feel like we’ve hit a plateau or even gone backward may simply be moments of reflection—turns in the spiral. And even in these moments, we’re still moving upward.

Stairway of Life

Our Thoughts and Limited Beliefs Keep Us Stuck in the Straight Line

As I sit here typing, I realize that I’ve always been in this spiral, even when I didn’t see it. Our perception of life being linear is often due to our own limited beliefs. We get stuck in our heads, overthinking the past or the future, defining ourselves by the mistakes we’ve made or the things we think we haven’t accomplished yet. But the truth is that we’re always evolving, always learning, always spiraling upwards, even if it feels like we’re repeating the same cycles.

Our beliefs shape how we perceive the world and ourselves, but these beliefs aren’t always the truth—they’re just our interpretation. Sometimes we need to let go of these beliefs and see the bigger picture, one where the journey is not about a straight line but about growth, adaptation, and progress.

The Struggle with My Own Mother: A Lesson in Letting Go

A big lesson I’ve been learning is in my relationship with my own mother. We can never have a normal conversation without feeling resistance, and it’s always been a source of frustration for me. I realize that part of the reason for this is that my mother, like many people, is stuck in her own set of limited beliefs. She’s holding onto perspectives from the past, and no matter how much I try to explain, it’s like we’re speaking different languages.

It’s difficult to navigate this. It’s hard to ignore the things she says, especially when they tend to stick with me. But I’ve started to ask myself: What is my lesson here? What am I meant to learn from this experience?

The resistance I feel from my mother often serves as a mirror for my own internal struggles. It's a reminder that I’m still working through my own beliefs and how they shape my interactions with others. I’m learning that it’s okay to release expectations, to not need her approval or understanding, and to trust in my own growth and path.

The Importance of Personal Growth Over Family Approval

It’s tough when those we love don’t see things the way we do. But sometimes, the most important lesson we can learn is that growth is not dependent on the approval of others. When we’re caught up in trying to convince people, especially family, of our own truths, we can lose sight of the fact that we are on our own unique journey. Our spiral is ours to navigate.

My mother’s resistance doesn’t mean I’m not growing; it simply means we are on different spirals. And I’ve come to understand that it’s okay. I don’t need to hold myself back to stay in sync with someone else’s beliefs. My path is mine, and hers is hers, and both can be valid in their own ways.

Conclusion: Embracing the Stairway of Life

Life isn’t about a straight line. It’s about embracing the twists and turns, understanding that even when it feels like we’re not progressing, we’re still moving upwards. We’re still evolving. And sometimes, the biggest challenge is letting go of our limited beliefs and the expectations we place on others, especially those closest to us.

As I continue on my own spiral, I remind myself that it’s okay to embrace the resistance, to feel the tension. It’s all part of the process. The spiral doesn’t always look like what we expect, but it’s always leading us to greater understanding, growth, and, ultimately, to a higher place.