From Being to Becoming: When the Cycle Turns - Issue 1
Opening Reflection
Not long ago, I found myself floored by illness — influenza B.
It was more than just physical exhaustion. My energy was drained. My thoughts turned heavy. I doubted my ability to run a business. Even music — usually my anchor — felt distant.
Life, in that moment, felt like it was falling apart.
But as I sat with it, I realised something important: life is full of cycles like this. Periods of contraction, fog, and uncertainty.
It doesn’t feel like growth. It feels like loss.
But in truth, contraction is often what prepares us for expansion.
The Pattern of Becoming
I’ve seen it in my own career too.
When I first started in finance, there were many moments when I thought of giving up. The hours were long, the pressure was relentless, and I often wondered if I was really cut out for it.
But those same experiences pushed me to grow — from financial accounting into organisational change, and eventually into coaching.
The doubts, the pauses, the low points — they weren’t dead ends. They were doorways.
Why This Matters for Women Leaders
For women in corporate, finance, and leadership — especially those navigating identity and belonging — these cycles can feel even harsher.
The pressure to perform, the unspoken biases, the feeling that you must “prove yourself” twice as hard: all of it amplifies the lows.
But here’s the truth: you are not failing in those moments of contraction. You are becoming.
A Different Way to Lead
Growth isn’t linear. There are times you feel stalled, or even like you’re moving backwards. But those phases are not wasted. They are fertile.
If you can pause, reflect, and ask yourself: What is this moment teaching me? — you’ll find that every contraction carries the seed of your next expansion.
“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”
— Maya Angelou
A Closing Reflection
Becoming isn’t about avoiding struggle. It’s about finding the strength to move through it, and trusting that even in the low cycles, you are being reshaped for what’s next.
So if you’re in that place right now — tired, uncertain, doubting yourself — know this: you are not stuck. You are becoming.
About From Being to Becoming
This article is part of my series From Being to Becoming — a reflective journey exploring growth, resilience, and authenticity for women in leadership, finance, and beyond.
I write these pieces to spark reflection and to remind you that you already carry the strength to navigate the cycles of your life and leadership.
Let’s Continue the Conversation
I’m Saima Anis, Executive & Leadership Coach and Founder of Amara Coaching & Consulting.
👉 If you’d like to explore how coaching can help you move through your own cycle of “being to becoming,” I’d love to connect.
