In this episode of Still Becoming, Bobby explores a subtle but deeply human experience: the discomfort of realizing you’re no longer who you used to be—while not yet feeling settled in who you’re becoming.

The episode opens in that in-between space. A place where the old version of you no longer fits, but the new version hasn’t fully taken shape. It’s uncomfortable. Not because something is wrong, but because something is changing. And Bobby challenges the idea that this feeling means failure, confusion, or regression. Instead, he reframes it as a natural part of growth that we rarely talk about.

So much of personal development focuses on becoming—on growth, progress, and leveling up. But what often gets overlooked is the experience of leaving. Leaving behind an old identity isn’t clean or ceremonial. It doesn’t come with closure or clarity. It often shows up quietly, as misalignment. The things that once motivated you don’t hit the same. The strategies and mindsets you relied on no longer work as well. And the familiarity you once leaned on begins to fade.

Bobby reflects on how this shows up in his own life. He’s still showing up. Still doing the work. Still staying consistent. Yet it doesn’t always feel like momentum. Sometimes it just feels like repetition—like putting in effort that doesn’t look impressive from the outside or feel impressive on the inside. That’s when questions creep in: Shouldn’t this feel better by now? Shouldn’t I feel more confident?

The turning point comes with a realization: discomfort isn’t a sign that something is broken. It’s often a sign that something old no longer fits.

The episode goes on to honor the older versions of ourselves—the ones that got us here. They deserve respect. But they aren’t meant to carry us forward forever. Outgrowing an old identity can feel destabilizing because it removes certainty, even if that certainty was imperfect. Growth sometimes requires trusting something that hasn’t fully formed yet. And that’s not weakness—it’s transition.

Bobby names this phase “the quiet season.” A time when growth happens without applause, validation, or clear markers of progress. Just you, showing up again and again, wondering if it’s adding up. He suggests this is where many people quit—not because they don’t want more, but because discomfort convinces them they’re lost.

The reframe offered is simple but powerful: what if this season isn’t a detour, but exactly where you’re meant to be? What if the discomfort isn’t something to escape, but proof that you’re no longer who you used to be—and that something new is forming?

The episode closes with a gentle invitation to reflect. Not to fix or rush or judge the discomfort, but to notice where something old no longer fits. To stay present. To keep doing the quiet work. And to allow the next version of yourself to take shape in its own time.

You’re not failing. You’re not behind. You’re still becoming.

As the year comes to a close, it’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to be measuring yourself—what you accomplished, what you didn’t, and whether you did “enough.” In this New Year’s Eve episode of Still Becoming, Bobby offers a quieter, more honest perspective.

This episode isn’t about resolutions.

It’s not about reinventing yourself.

And it’s not about pretending January 1st magically resets everything.

Instead, it’s about recognizing that growth doesn’t happen on a calendar.

Becoming doesn’t start and stop with the year. It doesn’t care what month it is. Some of the biggest changes in our lives begin not in moments of excitement, but in exhaustion, doubt, and quiet decisions no one else sees.

Still Becoming isn’t a one-year project. It’s not “I’ll give it everything this year and see what happens.” It’s not a last shot or a deadline. It’s a long-term commitment to staying in the process—through sprint seasons, survival seasons, and rebuilding seasons. All of it counts.

In this episode, Bobby speaks directly to those who feel tired. Those who showed up even when they didn’t feel strong. Those who kept going quietly while others seemed to be “winning.” This isn’t about proving anything—it’s about choosing not to quit on yourself.

Becoming can look like training harder.

It can look like resting without guilt.

It can look like admitting you don’t have all the answers.

That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

Rather than asking, “What do I need to accomplish this year?” this episode invites you to ask deeper questions:

Who do I want to keep becoming?

What am I willing to stay committed to—even when it’s uncomfortable?

What version of myself deserves patience?

You don’t need a perfect plan. You don’t need massive momentum. You just need honesty, compassion, and the willingness to stay in the process.

As the year ends, don’t measure yourself by what you didn’t do. Measure yourself by the fact that you’re still here. Still curious. Still trying. Still listening to that quiet voice inside that says, “There’s more in me.”

There is.

This isn’t the end of anything.

It’s just another step.

Episode Summary — “Chasing My Old Self”

In this episode of Still Becoming, Bobby takes listeners inside one of the most vulnerable moments of his marathon training journey—a day that was supposed to confirm progress, but instead forced him to confront doubt, comparison, and identity.

The episode opens with a familiar fear many athletes and high achievers know well: not the fear of slowing down, but the fear that maybe this is all you have left. Bobby recounts heading into a marathon simulation run fully prepared—training, fueling, sleep, mindset all aligned. This wasn’t just another long run. It was meant to be a statement. A chance to prove that all the work was leading him back to the runner he once was.

The early miles felt smooth and controlled. Confidence crept in. But as conditions worsened—light rain, gusting wind—and the miles added up, something didn’t click. When Bobby tried to press into marathon pace, the response never came. Effort increased, but pace didn’t. His body tightened. His stride shortened. And the familiar internal dialogue surfaced: Why can’t you go faster? This used to be easy. What if you’ve lost it?

By mile nineteen, the weight of it all set in. Not anger. Not frustration. Just a deep sense of defeat. Bobby made the decision to shut it down—not with a dramatic finish or heroic push, but quietly. And almost immediately, the inner critic followed: You gave up. You’re not who you used to be. Maybe you’re getting slower.

What made this moment hit hardest wasn’t the workout itself, but what it symbolized. Bobby wasn’t just fighting the weather or the run—he was fighting a past version of himself. A version that existed in a different season of life.

In the reflection that follows, perspective begins to shift. Sitting with the data—twenty miles at a solid average pace in tough conditions—Bobby realizes the comparison isn’t fair. The runner he was in 2021 and 2022 wasn’t building a podcast, raising a family, working full-time, and carrying the weight of more responsibility. Today’s version isn’t weaker—he’s carrying more.

This episode becomes less about chasing an old self and more about honoring who he’s becoming. Strength, Bobby reminds us, doesn’t always show up in splits or results. Sometimes strength is simply continuing to show up when belief feels fragile.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder and listener challenge: progress isn’t always visible. Some days, it feels like defeat—but those are often the days shaping who we’re becoming. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on where they’re comparing themselves to an older version of who they were, and instead ask a different question:

Who am I becoming?

Because becoming isn’t a moment—it’s built mile by mile, day by day.