Ever felt like the moment you start seeing business growth, things suddenly feel harder instead of easier?

Like you’ve finally hit a new level, but instead of feeling excited, you’re questioning everything. You want to grow your business—but why does it feel so uncomfortable when it actually happens?

Here’s the truth: Business growth often brings discomfort. And believe it or not, that’s actually a good thing. If you’ve been feeling stuck, battling the fear of success, or second-guessing yourself at every turn, you’re not alone.

I’ve been there too. You work so hard to hit that next level, and when you do, instead of celebrating, you’re overwhelmed with doubt. You start thinking, What if I can’t sustain this? or Am I really cut out for this? I used to think that business growth was supposed to feel easy and smooth, but the reality is that growing pains are a natural part of leveling up.

Why Growth Feels Messy

Growth means stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s your brain’s way of trying to protect you by convincing you to stay small and safe. But here’s the kicker: discomfort is actually a sign that you’re on the right path. It means you’re pushing beyond your limits and into new territory, and that’s exactly where transformation happens.

Fear of Success: The Sneaky Saboteur

Sometimes we don’t fear failure—we fear success. Yep, you heard me right. Success can feel scary because it comes with more responsibility, visibility, and expectations. It’s easy to let this fear keep you stuck in old patterns, doing what feels safe rather than what will truly move you forward.

How to Know If It’s Growing Pains or Time to Pivot

Not every uncomfortable feeling means you’re on the right track. Sometimes it’s a sign that something needs to change. The key is to differentiate between temporary growing pains (feeling stretched, overwhelmed, unsure) and a persistent feeling of being misaligned with your values or goals. When discomfort feels like growth, it’s temporary and eventually leads to confidence. When it feels like dread, it might be time to reassess.

Embrace Discomfort to Grow Your Business

The moment you stop chasing comfort and start embracing discomfort, everything shifts. Instead of letting the fear of success keep you stuck, use it as a signal that you’re leveling up. Reframing challenges as proof that you’re moving forward changes how you show up in your business—and ultimately, how much you achieve.

Let’s Talk About It

If this hits home, DM me on Instagram @katyripp and share one way your business growth has felt uncomfortable lately. I’d love to chat about it—because trust me, you’re not the only one feeling this way.

And if you’re craving support from a community of women who get it, join us inside Actually, We Can—my private space for midlife women entrepreneurs who are ditching the fear of success and ready to approach business growth in a way that actually feels good.

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