Slingshot Weekly (7/30/25) | Embrace the Winding Path

When we dream about the future, we often imagine it as a straight line. Have an idea. Make a plan. Take action. Succeed. It’s clean, simple, and predictable. But the truth is, real progress rarely looks like that. The real journey is more like a winding path - full of sharp turns, steep hills, and unexpected detours. It can feel frustrating, even discouraging, when the road isn’t as direct as we hoped. Yet, it’s often in those bends and obstacles that we discover our deepest growth.

Think about people you admire - athletes, artists, educators, entrepreneurs. Almost none of them tell a story of smooth sailing. J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve publishers before Harry Potter became a household name. Michael Jordan didn’t make his high school varsity team the first time he tried out. Oprah Winfrey was once told she wasn’t “fit for television.” Their journeys were not straight lines. They were winding paths filled with setbacks that ultimately fueled their success.

Here’s the great secret: every “almost,” every “yes,” and every “no” adds to your journey. These moments aren’t just roadblocks—they’re bricks on the path you’re building. That failed application? It sharpened your skills. That detour? It gave you perspective. That pause you didn’t want to take? It allowed you to reset and come back stronger. The key is not avoiding mistakes but staying on the path long enough to learn what works for you. Growth happens when you give yourself permission to stumble, reflect, adjust, and keep moving forward. As author Brené Brown once said, “There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.”

So what does this mean for you? It means giving yourself credit for showing up. For saying yes to opportunities even when you weren’t sure how they’d unfold. For putting in effort when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed. It means seeing your winding path not as evidence that you’re “behind,” but as proof that you’re becoming resilient, adaptable, and prepared for what’s next.

When you look back one day, you’ll see not a flawless line, but a rich map of the challenges you overcame. That map is your story. And it’s more valuable than any straight line could ever be.

Reflection Questions

• Where have I mistaken a detour for a dead end?

• What past “no” taught me something that shaped who I am today?

• How can I give myself credit this week for showing up, even if it wasn’t perfect?

   

Remember: you are not waiting for perfection. You’re already in motion. And the winding path you’re walking is the very thing that’s preparing you for what’s ahead.