Joy Wasted with KB Dickey

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s feeling like I’m stuck. Progress is my one word—my north star, my measuring stick, my “am I even doing life right?” indicator. If I’m not moving forward, making something happen, checking off boxes, or at least feeling momentum, I am utterly miserable. And let’s be real—waiting for growth to show itself? Ugh. Torture.

But the thing about progress is… sometimes it’s sneaky. Sometimes it’s happening when you can’t see it, feel it, or measure it in any tangible way. And that part? That part irritates my soul because I like my progress loud and obvious, thank you very much.

So, let’s dissect this whole waiting-for-growth process because if I have to sit in it, I might as well understand it.

1. Progress Happens Underground First

Ever plant a seed? (Metaphorically or literally—because let’s be real, I’m not out here gardening like that.) You put it in the dirt, water it, give it some sun, and… nothing happens. At least, not that you can see. But underground? That seed is splitting open. It’s stretching, forming roots, getting itself together.

Meanwhile, I’m over here like, “HELLO?! Can you hurry up?!” But growth doesn’t care about my impatience. It moves on its timeline, not mine.

2. Just Because You Can’t See It Doesn’t Mean It’s Not Happening

This part is what gets me every time. Sometimes I’ll be grinding, pushing, doing all the things, and it looks like I’m just spinning my wheels. But later—sometimes much later—I’ll realize that something was shifting. I was building muscle, developing patience (ugh), strengthening my foundation.

It’s like working out (which, by the way, I have a love-hate relationship with). You don’t see results overnight. But that doesn’t mean your body isn’t changing.

3. The Waiting is Where the Refining Happens

If you’re in a season of waiting, I feel your pain. Trust me, I do. But waiting isn’t wasted time. This is the stretch, the build, the behind-the-scenes work that prepares you for what’s next. Because what’s worse than slow progress? Arriving at the next level unprepared.

And let’s be honest: the stuff I’ve waited for the longest? When it finally came, I was glad I didn’t get it when I first wanted it. I wasn’t ready. And the in-between—the part that made me wanna scream—was where I became the version of myself that could handle the blessing.

4. Faith Walks Where Evidence Hasn’t Caught Up Yet

Here’s the real test: Can you keep showing up even when there’s no visible reward yet? That’s the part that separates the people who say they want it from the people who actually get it.

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a “show me the results” kind of person. But I’ve learned that sometimes you have to trust the process even when the process feels like it’s playing games with you.

So, What Do You Do in the Meantime?

• Keep moving. Even if it’s just tiny steps. Tiny steps still count.
• Look for other signs of growth. Maybe the external results aren’t there yet, but are you getting stronger? More disciplined? Wiser? Those things matter.
• Stay in the game. Most people quit right before the breakthrough. Don’t be most people.
• Remind yourself why you started. Because if progress is your one word (like it is for me), then quitting is not an option.

So yeah, I may not see the progress I want right now, and it may irritate me to no end, but I know one thing: when the results finally show up, they will be worth every second of waiting.

And until then? I’ll keep watering my seeds. 🌱✨