Episode Title: The Cost of Growth: Why Inconvenience Might Be the Sign You’re on the Right Path
Hey friend, welcome back to Running to Myself—the podcast where we talk honestly about growth, mindset, and learning to show up for the life you actually want.
I’m Trisha Stanton, and today’s episode is a deeply personal one.
Recently, I had a conversation that stayed with me long after it ended. You know the kind—where something lands in your spirit and refuses to leave? I woke up the next morning with these words echoing in my head:
“Stretching into the next version of yourself always costs something… and convenience is usually the first thing to go.”
I keep needing to relearn this. Over and over and over.
But the truth is, trying to avoid inconvenience has never brought me closer to the life I want. In fact, it’s usually the thing that holds me back the most.
So that’s what we’re diving into today:
If you need it to be convenient, you might not be ready for the kind of growth that actually changes you.
That stings a little bit, doesn’t it.
Let’s just acknowledge something: Life has never been more convenient. And that might be part of the problem.
We live in a culture that thrives on ease. Groceries delivered. Entertainment on demand. Conversations reduced to quick texts. We’ve built our lives around comfort and instant results—and somewhere along the way, we started believing that growth should feel that way, too.
So we say:
* “I’ll work on that relationship when things calm down.”
* “I’ll start coaching when life isn’t so crazy.”
* “I’ll chase that dream… later.”
We keep waiting for clarity, peace, or energy before we act. But more often than not? That moment never comes.
Because real growth doesn’t arrive gift-wrapped in ease.
It comes disguised as disruption.
As inconvenience.
As a challenge you didn’t plan for and didn’t ask for.
And yet—that’s where transformation actually begins.
A Story from My Own Life
Let me tell you about a trip we took a few years back to Lake Tahoe. While we were there, we decided to climb Mt. Tallac. It’s just under 10,000 feet in elevation—and honestly? We had no idea what we were getting into.
Nobody warned us that climbing a mountain is, well… relentless. It’s not just hard—it’s the kind of hard that keeps showing up every step of the way. There’s no shortcut. No convenient moment to take a break. From the time we left our car to the time we returned, it was twelve full hours of pushing our bodies and minds to their limits.
We were completely spent by the end—legs shaking, totally wiped out—and it was also one of the most incredible experiences of my life.
Not because it was easy. But because it wasn’t.
That climb taught me something I’ve had to learn in every area of my life:
You don’t get the view without the work.
You don’t get the reward without the inconvenience.
And more often than not, it’s the inconvenient days—not the comfortable ones—that shape you the most.
The Bigger Truth
Now, I didn’t learn that lesson just on a mountain.
The most meaningful growth in my life has happened in much messier places.
In real life.
In the middle of grief.
In strained relationships.
In those moments when I felt completely unsure of my next step—but showed up anyway.
And lately, I’ve found myself in another season of stretching.
I’ve been learning new skills, tools, and systems that quite frankly make my brain ache. Some days, I feel like I can’t absorb one more thing. I’ll walk away from my computer just to clean out a drawer—anything to feel like I’m winning something.
It’s frustrating. It’s humbling. And it’s so inconvenient.
But it’s also evidence that I’m doing something new. And that matters.
Discomfort isn’t a sign you’re failing. It’s a sign you’re growing.
What If Inconvenience Is a Signpost?
So let me ask you:
What if inconvenience isn’t something to avoid… but something to pay attention to?
What if it’s a sign you’re right where you need to be?
Because every time I’ve grown—every time I’ve taken a bold step—it’s been inconvenient.
Parenting while working full time.
Running my first marathon.
Moving across the country and starting over in my late 40s.
Launching my coaching practice.
None of those things came with perfect timing or easy logistics.
But they came with something better: transformation.
And the same is true for my clients. I coach women in all kinds of transitions—some exciting, some heartbreaking—and time after time, I see the same pattern.
Growth demands something of us.
And usually, the first thing it demands is our comfort.
Let’s Talk About Relationships
And while we’re on the topic of inconvenience, I want to take a minute to talk about where it shows up in one of the most important areas of our lives: our relationships.
Because let’s be honest—sometimes the people we love most need us at the least convenient times.
You’ve been going all day, and then a friend calls who’s having a hard time.
Your teenager wants to talk… right as you finally sat down.
That one person keeps showing up in your life, needing support—again.
And it feels like an interruption. Like one more ask when you’re already stretched thin.
But here’s what I want to offer:
What if that “interruption” is actually the most important moment of your entire day?
Not because it’s convenient. But because it’s real.
Relationships aren’t built on highlight reels.
They’re built in the messy, unfiltered moments—when you choose to show up. When you take the call. When you make space. When you listen, even though your to-do list is shouting.
That’s not always easy. It’s not always scheduled.
But it’s what creates connection. And connection is foundational to a meaningful, well lived life.
We don’t always see the fruit right away—not this week, not next month—but investing in our relationships, even when it’s inconvenient, matters.
In fact, it might be the thing that matters most.
So if you’ve been feeling pulled in a hundred directions and tempted to withdraw because it’s just “too much”—take a breath. Ask yourself if this “interruption” might actually be a sacred opportunity. A moment that builds trust. That reminds someone they’re not alone. That reminds you that love isn’t always scheduled, but it’s always worth the effort.
So How Do We Shift?
Let me leave you with three practical ways to start moving through this today:
1. Ask yourself: Where is convenience running the show?
Where are you waiting for it to get easier before you take action? Be honest—not harsh. Awareness is the goal, not self-judgment.
2. Choose one thing to do—even though it’s inconvenient.
Just one.
Have the hard conversation.
Restart the morning routine.
Book the coaching session.
Whatever it is, take the step—even if it’s messy.
3. Remember this: The need for convenience is a barrier to your growth.
That conversation I had—the one that stuck with me—was a wake-up call. Convenience keeps us from doing the things that matter most.
It blocks the deeper relationships.
It delays the dreams.
It numbs the ache that’s actually calling us to grow.
So maybe the real question isn’t:
“Is this too hard?”
Maybe it’s:
“What would I do today if I stopped waiting for it to be easy?”
Final Thoughts
Friend, I want you to hear this: You are not alone in this journey.
I’m walking it with you.
Learning. Stretching. Failing sometimes.
And relearning—over and over—that growth is rarely convenient.
But it’s always worth it.
So what’s the inconvenient step you’re ready to take this week?
Send me a message.
Share this episode with a friend who needs it.
Or schedule a coaching session if you’re ready to stop waiting for ease and start moving toward something that matters.
I’d be honored to walk that road with you.
Until next time—keep showing up. Even when it’s hard.
Especially when it’s hard.
That’s where transformation lives.
You’ve got this.
And I’m cheering you on.
