notes from the long becoming

how we grow:
a meditation on patience, creative tenacity, and the soul’s slow burn

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés has said:

"Three things differentiate living from the soul versus living from the ego. They are: the ability to sense and learn new ways, the tenacity to ride a rough road, and the patience to learn deep love over time. The ego, however, has a penchant and a proclivity to avoid learning. Patience is not ego's strong suit."

These words carry a quiet but powerful truth about the way we navigate life and creativity. When we look at the world from the perspective of the soul, we engage with it as something to learn from, to grow alongside. We become students of life itself. But the ego, how often does it try to rush through things? To push, to control, to avoid the very discomfort that growth requires.

Creativity, like life and love, asks for patience. It’s like tending a garden: sorting through the seeds of thought, choosing what to nurture, and letting the soil of challenge and change do its work. Every creative idea begins as a tiny, fragile seed. It takes time to grow, time to see the first sprout, and often, time to face the rough roads of self-doubt or external obstacles. And just as love deepens over time through patience and persistence, so too does our creative process.

The ego, in contrast, wants immediate results. It craves the finished product, the recognition, the win. And if that doesn't happen quickly, it’s often the first to whisper that you’ve failed.

But the soul, the heart, knows better. It understands that everything worthwhile unfolds slowly. The soul knows that true creativity isn’t about perfection; it’s about process. About staying. About learning to love the work over time, even through the struggle.

And it’s important to acknowledge—the ego isn’t the enemy. It’s the part of us that dares to dream big, to play with our edges, to stretch beyond what we thought was possible. When integrated with the soul’s steady knowing, the ego can help us grow—not by rushing, but by reaching.

So tell me…

How do you know
when you're moving from soul
instead of ego?

Have you learned to befriend the ego—
to work with it,
rather than battle it?

What helps you stay grounded
when the road gets rough?

What practices, what mindsets,
what quiet truths
help you move forward
with patience
and presence
instead of urgency?

© Alana Foy 2025