What a Downward Spiral Looks Like

If you’re spiraling downward, you probably feel like life is just happening to you. You’re not leading your life—you’re reacting to it.

You wake up already feeling behind. You dread the day ahead: the meetings, the workouts, the commitments. Even relationships that once gave you life now feel draining. That’s the hallmark of a downward spiral—it’s fast, it’s discouraging, and the longer you stay in it, the harder it is to pull yourself out.

What an Upward Spiral Looks Like

The goal, of course, is the opposite: an upward spiral.

This doesn’t mean perfection. It means progress. You’re actively participating in your life:

• Waking up early to move your body
• Fueling yourself with food that energizes you
• Leaning into relationships, even when it’s hard
• Giving focused effort at work, and then being present at home
• Choosing growth over comfort

In an upward spiral, life isn’t happening to you. You’re happening to life.

The Danger of Complacency

The real danger isn’t in a dramatic crash—it’s in slowly drifting into complacency. We stop showing up for ourselves. We coast. And without realizing it, we’re six months deep into a downward spiral.

But here's the good news: when we cultivate self-awareness, we can catch it. We can make small corrections to get back on track.

Growth Expands Our Capacity

Here’s the truth I’ve learned: the problems I face today would have crushed me a few years ago.

And the problems I’ll face five years from now? They’ll crush me if I don’t keep growing.

But if I stay committed to personal growth, I’ll be ready. And so will you.

Your Turn: Where Are You Spiraling?

Take a moment to reflect:

Are you in an upward spiral, actively growing and improving?
Or are you in a downward spiral, feeling stuck or overwhelmed?
What’s one small step you can take today to shift your spiral upward?

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