Being Requires Becoming

Written by Nicole at Junction Therapy

One of the quiet truths of life is that “being” is never a finished state. We don’t arrive at adulthood fully formed, fully aware, or fully confident in who we are. Instead, our identity unfolds across time, usually revealed in layers, seasons, and small awakenings. In this way, becoming is not separate from being. It is the very process that makes our being possible.

None of us were handed a complete blueprint at birth. Our caretakers didn’t receive a detailed map of our gifts, our calling, or the unique way God designed our hearts to move through the world to serve as their manual or to guide us along our way. Instead, God reveals us to ourselves gradually, through experience, relationship, challenge, curiosity, and the quiet nudges of the Holy Spirit. New pieces of who we are continue to surface as we walk our life path. This unfolding often takes longer than one would hope, but it is the design.

Because becoming is lifelong, we must learn to give ourselves grace in the process. Growth is not linear. Awareness comes in waves that allows our confidence to build slowly. Skill develops through repetition. We can easily become frustrated and want to give up when something doesn’t come naturally and we have to work at it, but that does not mean it is out of our reach or cannot be a part of who we are. The parts of ourselves that feel underdeveloped or unfinished are not signs of failure, but are signs that we are still in motion.

One of the most practical ways we participate in our own becoming is by setting goals. Not perfectionistic goals, not pressure‑filled goals, but gentle, intentional ones: goals that help us develop our skills, stretch our courage, nurture our creativity, and feed the positive parts of our personality. When we choose something to work toward — whether it’s learning a new craft, strengthening a relationship, improving our health, or deepening our faith — we create structure for growth. We give ourselves direction and we build habits that support our physical health, mental health, mood and overall well being.

Goal‑setting is not only about achievement. The things we are working toward can also be healthy coping mechanisms. They give us momentum when life feels stagnant, purpose when we feel uncertain, and hope when life feels heavy. It reminds us that we are capable of shaping our future in small, meaningful ways.

But becoming is not meant to be a solitary journey. Part of setting goals includes sharing them with others — letting trusted people know what we’re working toward so they can encourage us, celebrate with us, and help us stay connected to what is important to us. Community strengthens growth. It keeps us accountable to the version of ourselves we are trying to become.

If you have children or children are a part of your life, sharing your goals with them becomes a powerful form of modeling. Kids benefit from seeing that adulthood is not a static destination. We don’t reach a certain age and stop growing. We continue learning, stretching, healing, and discovering new things about ourselves throughout our entire lives. When children witness this, they learn that growth is normal, that change is healthy, and that becoming is a lifelong invitation— not something to fear.

Being requires becoming.
We honor who we are by participating in who we are becoming.
We honor God by tending to the unfolding He designed within us.
And we honor our mental health by giving ourselves grace, direction, and community along the way.

So today, consider one small step toward your becoming — one bite size goal, one new practice, one conversation that opens the door to encouragement. You are not behind. You are not late. You are simply unfolding, exactly as you were meant to.