Understanding what it truly means to trust the process, why it feels so hard, and how to gently practise surrender in everyday life. A grounding guide for personal and spiritual growth.

Dear Spirited Earthling,

Just trust the process.

How many times have you heard that phrase, only to want to roll your eyes? When you’re stuck in a job that feels stagnant, waiting for a dream to materialise, or healing from a loss that still aches, being told to "trust" in something unseen or intangible can feel naïve, even frustrating.

And sometimes, it sounds reassuring, like a comforting whisper when things feel messy or uncertain. Because deep down, you feel like there’s truth in it. An innate knowing that magic doesn’t easily happen in the rush, preferring the quiet unfolding. So why is it so hard to surrender to timing we can’t control? And how do we practise trust when everything in us screams for certainty? Learning to trust the process might be one of the most profound mindset shifts you can make on your journey of self-development, self-care, and spiritual growth.

Sign posted forested path that says 'the right way' and the path divides into two paths

What Does It Mean to Trust the Process?

What trusting the process really means is choosing patience over panic, faith over force, and presence over perfection. It is actively choosing to show up and do what your part, and then releasing expectations on how things should be or look and how long this change should take. In essence, trusting the process means believing in the goodness of things unfolding as they should, even if you can’t yet see how. It’s a conscious decision to stay open and grounded when life feels uncertain.

What trusting the process is not, is passive resignation. It’s not about sitting back and hoping the universe drops answers into your lap, or your circumstances change without you making any changes to your habits or mindset.

In spiritual circles, this is called surrender. In religious ones, faith. But no matter the label, the core is the same: believing in the unseen growth, the invisible groundwork being laid for you, the wisdom of slow becoming (the lessons you learn in the waiting).

Why Is It So Hard to Trust the Journey?

Trusting your journey can feel hard, even when you know you need to have faith and surrender. Being human means craving certainty and creating control, even when it’s an illusion. We have created monthly calendars to follow and constructed ‘time’ to regulate us. And so, the idea of trusting the process may feel like you are going against every modern instinct:

We mistake uncertainty for failure. If we can’t see progress, we assume nothing’s happening. But have you ever watched a seed sprout? The biggest growth happens underground, in the dark, unseen.
We’re addicted to speed. Instant downloads, next-day delivery, rapid transformations. But personal growth (and healing)? That moves at the pace of roots, not rockets. We create arbitrary schedules for ourselves and become annoyed when the world doesn’t follow it.
We confuse control with safety. Clinging to a rigid plan feels safer than admitting, "I don’t know how this ends." Our minds prefer the illusion of certainty, even if it means clinging to old habits or rushing the ‘timeline’. But true security comes from adaptability, not predictability.
Comparison hijacks our trust. Scrolling through others’ highlight reels makes our own journey feel "behind." But timelines aren’t universal, they’re deeply personal and are influenced by so many different things. I heard on a podcast how we compared ourselves to others in our tribe, then village. Now, we compare ourselves to the world – people with different resources, genetics, privileges and backgrounds.
We overthink so we don’t fail. What if we trust, and it all falls apart? Many of us want every step mapped out before we begin. But the journey often requires us to take one step in the dark before the next is revealed. And that fear of failure can stop us from ever fully committing to a path.

“Don’t worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?” ~ Rumi

'believe' and 'pray' in wooden scrabble pieces on a pink background

How to Gently Practise Trusting the Process

Think of trust like a muscle, it needs to be strengthened with repetition. Here’s how to practise trust (even when everything in you resists):

1. Borrow Evidence from the Past

Look back at moments in your life where things didn’t go to plan yet somehow worked out better than expected. Let that be evidence that the process can be trusted.

When has life surprised you in a good way?
When did a "detour" lead somewhere better than you’d planned?
When did slow growth save you from a hasty mistake?

Try this: Write down three times things worked out differently than expected, but better in hindsight. Keep this list as a reminder when doubt creeps in and add to it as you remember more instances.

2. Redefine "Productivity"

Progress isn’t always visible. What if today’s "work" was simply:

Resting when exhausted.
Saying no to what drains you.
Showing up for one small, unglamorous step.

Try this: Each evening, note one way you honoured your growth (even if it wasn’t "measurable").

3. Practise the "Next Right Step" Rule

You don’t need the entire path lit, just the next few steps. Ask yourself:

What’s one thing I can do today that aligns with my intention?
Then do it and let go of what’s beyond your control.

It’s good to have a direction but allow flexibility because the universe often has more creative ideas than we do.

4. Create a Trust Mantra

Affirmations and mantras can help anchor you when fear arises:

I trust in divine timing
I don’t need to see the whole staircase to take the first step.
My timing is not wrong, it’s unfolding as it should.
This discomfort is part of the becoming.
Everything is unfolding for my highest good, with harm to no being.

5. Redefine Uncertainty as a Sign of Movement

Think about being on a train in the dark. You can only see the next few feet of track, but the driver sees the full route. Trust that life is the same: you’re not meant to know every twist ahead, because you are being guided. Confusion, discomfort, and even setbacks are often signs that something new is forming. It’s okay not to have it all figured out.

Trusting the process can apply to every chapter of life (waiting for a breakthrough in your career, healing from a loss, longing for a child, or rebuilding your finances). Whatever your circumstance, this truth remains: something meaningful is unfolding, even if you can’t see it yet.

“Learn the alchemy true human beings know. The moment you accept what troubles you’ve been given, the door will open.”~ Rumi

sunrise above purple and violet coloured clouds

If you’re exhausted from forcing, striving, or second-guessing, pause. Breathe. Remember:

You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you need to be.
The process is working, even if today’s work is waiting.
Uncertainty isn’t a sign you’re lost - it’s proof you’re growing.

Trusting the process is an act of courage. It means showing up with hope even when the path isn’t clear. It means tending to your life like a garden - watering the soil, honouring the seasons, and believing in the magic that happens underground.

Trust isn’t all blind. It’s built on the quiet victories you’ve already survived. If you’re in a season of waiting, wondering, or working through uncertainty, know this: you’re not behind, you’re not lost, and you’re not alone. You’re in the process, and that is a sacred place to be. Keep going. You’re doing better than you think.

Spirited Earthling is more than just a blog – it's a gathering place for kindred spirits drawn by an interest in self-discovery, the appeal of self-care, and a desire for a deeper connection to themselves and the world. It is written and created for curious minds and spiritual hearts seeking meaning in everyday life. This blog aims to help you curate your wholesome personal growth with free weekly ideas and affordable resources for sale.

As you navigate your personal growth journey using the words and ideas shared here, consider sharing this blog with someone looking for inspiration or motivation on their own journey. We are all spirited earthlings, and can lift each other together with mindful, connected living. I deeply appreciate every read, share, and purchase.

Thank you for being part of this community.

Best wishes, warmest regards

Jordan

Affirmation: I trust in the timing of my life. I am exactly where I need to be, and I welcome what is unfolding with an open heart.

To-do: Choose one small thing to let go of today - a worry, a timeline, or a need to have it all figured out. Write it on a piece of paper and either tear it up, bury it, or burn it safely as a symbol of releasing it to the process.

Journal Prompts: Where in my life am I being invited to let go of control and trust the process? What would it feel like to surrender, even just a little, in this area?

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Trusting the Process: Why it Feels Impossible (and How to Do It Anyway)