The Guilt of Growing

Why the most 'productive' thing you can do might not feel productive at all

I heard something in our Sacred Writing Circle this week that really caught my attention.

One of our most accomplished entrepreneurs confessed something very real:

She feels guilty when she spends time on personal development.

"It feels selfish," she shared. "Like I should be doing something more productive."

I sat with that for a moment.

How many of us carry this weight?

This unspoken belief that working on ourselves is somehow less valuable than working in our business. This nagging voice that says meditation, reflection, and inner work are luxuries we'll earn "someday."

This constant pressure to prioritize the urgent over the important.

Here's the inconvenient truth: That voice? It's lying to you.

I've seen it so many times.

The entrepreneur generating six figures monthly but feeling empty inside.

The consultant crushing their revenue goals but disconnected from their purpose.

The leader everyone admires but who can barely look at themselves in the mirror.

I know because I've been there.

When I was running my consulting business, bringing in over $100K a month, I had what was once described by a client as the "Midas touch."

Everything I touched seemed to turn to gold.

But I was taking what I now recognize as the fragmented approach - trying to separate my inner growth from my outer success.

And my body was keeping score.

Autoimmune conditions. Burnout. A golf-ball sized tumor in my neck.

The universe has a way of getting our attention, doesn't it?

Here's what I've learned since then: The time you spend in self-development isn't a detour from your success - it's the foundation of it.

Think about it:

• What could be more important than clarifying your vision for the next decade of your life?

• What could be more productive than aligning your business with your deepest purpose?

• What could be more practical than learning to access your own inner wisdom?

One of my mentors, Michael Singer, puts it this way:

"My formula for success was very simple: Do whatever is put in front of you with all your heart and soul without regard for personal results. Do the work as though it were given to you by the universe itself — because it was."

This isn't about choosing between success and self-development.

It's about recognizing that true success flows from deep self-knowledge.

It's about understanding that everything - and I mean everything - is connected.

So here's my invitation:

Stop apologizing for investing in your growth.

Stop feeling guilty about taking time to get clear.

Stop pushing aside the whispers of your soul in service of another to-do list.

Instead, ask yourself:

What if the "selfish" act of working on myself is actually the most generous thing I can do for my business?

What if my inner work is as crucial as my outer work?

What if my next level of success requires my next level of self-awareness?

Because here's what I know to be true: Your business can only grow as much as you do.

With love,

Phil

P.S. If you're ready to bridge the gap between your inner development and outer success, I invite you to explore our Sacred Growth Club.

It's a space where heart-centered entrepreneurs come together to grow their businesses while staying deeply connected to their purpose.