Hi, I'm Emilia Isabelle

Embracing Growth in a World That Wants the Old You

There comes a moment in everyone’s journey of personal growth when you realise something deeply uncomfortable: not everyone wants you to change. Some people are more invested in the old version of you, the one who was reactive, limited, perhaps even self-destructive because that version was predictable. Safe. Understandable.

Growth, by nature, is disruptive.

As I’ve evolved, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern. People I love and care about sometimes choose to misunderstand me. Not because they’re inherently cruel or incapable of change themselves, but because it’s easier for them to relate to the version of me they’ve always known. The version that didn’t question the status quo. The version that played small, stayed silent, or lashed out in defence instead of utilising the power of reflection. Now, when I respond with clarity instead of chaos, with love instead of fear, it disorients them. The growth is transformative and new, unrecognisable from the me they once knew.

This transformation can be lonely.

Dr. Joe Dispenza speaks to this tension beautifully in Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself. He explains how the brain becomes addicted to the chemical state of our familiar selves- the thoughts, feelings, and reactions we repeat daily. To change, we must literally rewire our brain, break those emotional addictions, and embrace the unknown. It’s not an easy task, nor is it one that occurs overnight, Rome wasn’t built in a day. But what’s even harder is doing it while others around us still expect, and sometimes demand, that we remain the same.

They poke at old wounds, waiting for the old reaction. They test boundaries, hoping for the familiar collapse. But when you don’t respond the way you used to, when you stay calm or walk away or speak with intention, it unsettles them. They may accuse you of being “cold,” “distant,” or “not yourself.” The reality is this: you’re no longer that self.

In these moments, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz become lifelines.

• Don’t Take Anything Personally – Their discomfort with your growth is not a reflection of your failure; it’s a mirror of their fear.
• Don’t Make Assumptions – They may not understand your journey because they haven’t been called to take their own yet.
• Be Impeccable With Your Word – Speak your truth, even when your voice shakes.
• Always Do Your Best – And know that “your best” will look different when you’re healing and evolving.

The hardest part is accepting that not everyone will celebrate or even acknowledge that your transformation is painful, but it’s part of the process. Growth often means outgrowing environments, roles, and relationships. It means grieving who you used to be and the life that version of you was attached to.

But it also means freedom.

You are not obligated to be who you were simply because it makes others comfortable. If people choose to misunderstand your peace, your boundaries, your quiet confidence, that’s their journey, not yours. Your responsibility is to keep showing up for your future, not shrinking for your past.

Stay grounded. Stay growing. Stay free.