When it comes to professional and personal relationships, you may find that you outgrow certain circles and it can sometimes feel hard or difficult to witness your friends leave your life, whether they are physically moving away from you or you’re simply moving apart from one another in the vision and dreams you have for yourself and your life.

The immediate reaction is usually something negative: one of fear and guilt because most people may be frightened that they’re being left behind, or leaving behind someone they used to feel so close to. They feel ashamed because they think it’s a disservice to themselves and their friends to be growing apart. Their friends might think they’re better than them, but that’s not true at the end of the day, because the truth is, you’re not growing out of their circles on purpose.

You’re not doing it to make your friends feel bad. It's just a reflection of you, how you've grown and how your dreams, goals, and aspirations have changed, the career that you aspire to and the time that you spend with other people because now you have more in common than your current circle of friends do.

Look, a lot of people have come into my life and a lot have gone out of my life. People come together, and they grow apart. At some point in our lives or paths, we just diverged. It doesn’t mean anything bad, it just means that we are no longer meant to be in each other’s lives or have anything in common, or are not moving toward a common goal or in the same direction anymore.

It's a natural effect of personal growth, so don't be surprised if you find yourself losing some friends as you grow.

What I Have Learned About Growing Apart

From what I learned on my entrepreneurial journey, growing apart is:

Sad at first, but an opportunity to grieve and be grateful.
Inevitable, because that is the way of the universe.
Natural, because we were made to move.

But you know what?

The People Who Learn to Grow With You Will Stay

If you have people in your life who understand you and make space for you, it’s because they want to be with you. If you don’t have that in your life, you should consider who you spend your time with.

Today, I’m proud to say that I feel like I found my people. I don’t feel judged, I’m not shamed or made to feel guilty for wanting the things I want, for pursuing the things that make me feel alive and for the things that I want to achieve for myself.

The people I surround myself with understand and respect who I am.

What Matters is YOU and What You Want to Achieve

You will attract the right people who understand, respect, and honor what you want to do and will support you. These are the people who will be right behind you and they will stay.

I'm Kat Torre, brand architect, and educator, here to help you realize and appreciate who the f*ck you are.

Follow me at @kattorrexo and let's talk about branding, personal development, entrepreneurship, and finding ways to share your voice and story with the world.