We don’t like to admit it, but the truth is this: not everyone you start with will be part of your finish line. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s just life. Growth often means shedding things that no longer serve the person you’re becoming — and sometimes, that includes people and places you never thought you’d outgrow
It’s uncomfortable. You start feeling guilty. You replay old memories in your head, wondering if you’re abandoning someone or becoming “selfish.” But here’s the thing — outgrowing someone doesn’t mean you hate them. It just means you’re evolving.
There will be friendships that don’t feel the same anymore. Jobs that once felt exciting but now drain you. Habits and routines that no longer align with who you want to be. When you feel yourself changing, the world around you shifts too. And it’s easy to start apologizing for it.
But should you? No, you shouldn’t!
Growth will make some people uncomfortable, especially those who benefited from the version of you that didn’t have boundaries or self-respect. Some will call you distant. Others will call you “different,” like it’s an insult. But you can’t shrink yourself to stay in spaces that no longer fit.
The truth? You owe it to yourself to keep moving forward.
Think about it: how many times have you stayed in situations too long because you were afraid of hurting someone’s feelings? How many opportunities have you missed because you felt guilty for leaving something behind? How many times have you ignored the quiet voice inside saying, “You’ve outgrown this”?
Your growth doesn’t have to make sense to everyone. It doesn’t need universal approval. The people who truly love you will understand that you’re walking toward the life you’re meant to have — and they’ll cheer you on, even if it means they’re not walking beside you anymore.
So stop apologizing for choosing yourself. Stop apologizing for changing your mind. Stop apologizing for protecting your peace. Life is too short to stay in rooms that suffocate you when you’re meant to soar.
One day, you’ll look back and realize that letting go of what you’d outgrown was the very thing that allowed you to step into your next chapter. And that chapter? It’s waiting for you to show up fully.
Have you ever outgrown a person or place and struggled with the guilt that came with it?
Drop a comment below and share your story — someone else may need to hear they’re not alone.
