Arc. Oluwatosin Emmanuel IBIMILUYI

 

As I approach my birthday, I find myself reflecting deeply on growth. Is it truly meant to be loud and visible, as we have often been led to believe? Or is there a quieter, more consistent side of growth that happens in the background, through the invisible and persistent work that life quietly demands from us?

 

It has become clear to me that growth often happens without obvious signs of progress. There are seasons when you are doing all you can, yet nothing seems to be changing on the outside. But those are the very moments when the most important growth is taking place.

 

Growth is often misunderstood. We are conditioned to think of it as a series of visible wins like career promotions, business expansions, financial breakthroughs, and public recognition. But life teaches us, in its own way, that growth does not always look like progress. Sometimes, the most critical growth happens quietly, invisibly, and even painfully.

 

Consider a seed. Its most essential growth takes place underground, in darkness, where no one can see. The roots go deep before the stem ever breaks the surface. If we judged the seed’s growth by what is visible, we would assume nothing is happening. Yet, beneath the soil, it is preparing for the weight of what is to come.

 

The same principle applies to us as humans, our businesses, our relationships, and even the belief systems we uphold. Growth is not always glamorous. It is not always accompanied by applause. Sometimes it feels like stagnation, going through routines, facing repeated challenges, or being stuck in seasons where nothing seems to change externally. But in those seasons, life is stretching our capacity, building resilience, teaching endurance, and refining character.

 

Growth is the assignment of life. Everything living, and even the things we create, is designed to grow; not just for the sake of expansion, but for strength, relevance, and purpose. The moment growth stops, decline begins. There is no neutral ground. You are either evolving or quietly decaying. This is true for individuals, organizations, families, and even nations.

 

Yet, we often make the mistake of measuring growth by what we can count; money, assets, status and even more recently, followers, comments and likes. But life frequently measures growth by what we can carry; more responsibility, more wisdom, more emotional strength, and more capacity to serve others.

 

A business that has not expanded its physical size but has improved its systems and impact is growing. A person who is learning patience, self-awareness, and responsibility, even without outward success, is growing. Growth is about becoming a more robust version of what you already are.

 

This is why it is dangerous to assume that slow seasons are wasted seasons. Depth must come before height. Roots before branches. Substance before spotlight. If your foundations are not strong, any sudden success will collapse under its own weight.

 

In a world obsessed with speed, growth demands patience. In a culture that rewards visibility, growth often happens in silence.

So, if life feels slow, quiet, or unnoticed, do not despise it. It might just be that your roots are going deeper, your structure is being strengthened, and your capacity is being built for what is ahead.

 

Because real growth is not just about achieving; it is about becoming.

 

As I mark another year of life, this reflection on growth feels deeply personal. Birthdays are often measured by age, achievements, and milestones. But this year, I am learning to measure it differently. For me, growth is not about how much I have gained, though I am immensely grateful for every blessing, but about how much I have become; how much capacity life has built in me through quiet seasons, challenges, and unseen victories. I can only hope that I will not be tested beyond what I can carry.

 

I am learning that our imperfections are not failures of design; they are necessary tools in our growth process. It is through mistakes, flaws, and weaknesses that life stretches us. Every limitation we confront, every flaw we acknowledge, becomes an opportunity for refinement. Growth is not about eliminating imperfections but about being shaped through them.

 

Perfection is not the goal; progress is. To be human is to be in process. Each year, I realize that my shortcomings, far from disqualifying me, are actually part of my curriculum for growth. They push me to reflect, adjust, and evolve. And as uncomfortable as that process may be, it is what ensures I am not stagnant.

 

So, this birthday, I choose to embrace my imperfections, my slow seasons, and my small wins. They are not detours; they are the journey. And in this journey, growth remains my lifelong assignment.

 

Dedicated to everyone who is quietly growing, learning, and becoming, one imperfect step at a time. This is my journey too.