> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://achronicvoice.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Life is a Long Process of Becoming Into... - URL: https://achronicvoice.com/life-is-a-long-process-of-becoming-into/ - Published: 2017-02-17T06:36:12.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-02T15:37:35.000Z - Author: Sheryl Chan - Tags: Personal Development, Chronic Illness ## Today's Food for Thought > “Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” - Anaïs Nin I'm not sure what to make of this quote by Anaïs Nin - what about you? Some of us who have experienced extreme, constant pain, only wish for stability. Sometimes we rather choose 'a kind of death' over torture. We are willing to pay whatever price is necessary to remain 'normal', even if that means remaining in a cocoon. But I suppose that isn't a realistic kind of life either. Whilst we can make certain choices to limit the potential of pain, it has a life form of its own that isn't ours to control. Otherwise, we would not have a chronic illness. *\*Disclaimer: This article is meant for educational purposes, and is based on my personal experiences as a patient. *I am not a doctor, and nothing in this article should be substituted for medical advice.* Please consult your own doctor before changing or adding *any* new treatment protocols. This post may also contain affiliate links. It will cost you nothing to click on them. I will get a small referral fee from purchases you make, which helps with the maintenance of this blog. Read our* [***Privacy Policy***](https://achronicvoice.com/privacy-policy/)*page for more information. Thank you!* Read Related Posts: - [Flowers are the Most Beautiful When They’re Just About to Die (and What That’s Got to Do with Being a Spoonie)](https://achronicvoice.com/flowers-most-beautiful-die-spoonie/) - [Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: 16 Takeaways with Chronic Illness](https://achronicvoice.com/mans-search-for-meaning-chronic-illness/) - [I Have No Purpose in Life, and Therein Lies My Life Purpose](https://achronicvoice.com/i-have-no-purpose-in-life/) - [Every Next Level of Your Life Will Demand a Different You](https://achronicvoice.com/next-level-life/) - [Chronic Illness is Unpredictable, but You Don’t Always Have to Fear the Unknown](https://achronicvoice.com/chronic-illness-unpredictable-dont-fear-unknown/) Pin to Your Personal Development & Life Lesson Boards: ![Life is a Long Process of Becoming Into. “Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” — Anaïs Nin — Read on: A Chronic Voice .com](https://cdn.achronicvoice.com/life-is-a-long-process-of-becoming-into-anais-nin-v2-photo-man.jpg) ## Growth Happens in the Right Environment We are like different types of flowers. Each of them needs the right kind of environment to mature into its full glory. If we are winter flowers trying to grow in a summer field, then of course we’re not going to thrive, much less bloom. Yet these summer flowers will never survive in our environment either. In that sense, [**we all possess an innate resilience**](https://achronicvoice.com/chronically-ill-resilient/) and beauty. We need to wait for the right season, and choose the best path for growth. Our very own, and not the manmade rules or fiction of society. [**There is no such thing as normal after all**](https://achronicvoice.com/no-one-way-live-your-life/), only things we get used to collectively. ## Sign Up for My Free Newsletter Be the first to get the latest post updates in your inbox, and unlock the comments section. You will also receive an e-book full of uplifting messages, quotes and illustrations as a token of appreciation! [Browse more membership plans here](#/portal/), or [make a one-off donation](https://ghost.achronicvoice.com/#/portal/support) instead. Sign Up Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Read Related Posts: - [Chronic Illness Quotes to Inspire, Motivate, Grieve, Hope & Laugh About](https://achronicvoice.com/chronic-illness-quotes/) - [The Secret of Change: Spend Your Energy Wisely with Chronic Illness](https://achronicvoice.com/secret-of-change/) - [Keeping Up with the World: Why it’s Important Despite Pain](https://achronicvoice.com/keeping-up-despite-pain/) - [Why Your Beauty Never Left You](https://achronicvoice.com/why-your-beauty-never-left-you/) - [Call Me Sick Girl (Or How to Make Your Weakness Your Strength)](https://achronicvoice.com/sick-girl-make-weakness-strength/) Pin to Your Personal Growth & Inspirational Quotes Boards: ![Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death. - Anais Nin” (Background: Purple flowers border the top and right.)](https://cdn.achronicvoice.com/quote_life-is-a-process-of-becoming-into-anais-nin.jpg) ### Comments Archives: Comments imported from previous WordPress site. - [ Tea and Cake for the Soul ](https://teaandcakeforthesoul.wordpress.com/) Oct 4, 2018 I love the line Growth Happens in the Right Environment - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Oct 4, 2018 It’s true! And the right environment varies for everyone of us 🙂 - Stacey Feb 23, 2017 So beautiful. As always. - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Feb 23, 2017 Thank as always too, Stacey! - Jayne Feb 22, 2017 I agree. Adaptation to the twists and turns of life and our position in it is key. Look who finally got access to your site – thank you for whatever you did 🙂 - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Feb 22, 2017 Hi Jayne…welcome to the blog, finally! :p And thank you for constantly trying to connect, I appreciate it. - Layla Feb 21, 2017 Very poetic and it really strikes a nerve. Chronic illness changes one so profoundly and even after we beat it (if we can) we will be forever changed. - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Feb 21, 2017 Thank you Layla. Yes it does scar you both physically and mentally, or maybe never really even heals. I hope you’re having one of those special good days today 😉 - Elizabeth Feb 21, 2017 Thank you so much for participating in our second link up party at The Unbroken Smile. I love your article and pics and I’m sure our readers will love it too. Thanks so much for sharing! ((Gentle Hugs)) - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Feb 21, 2017 Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for your kind words, and hosting these awesome link up parties. Keep up the good work! - [ Lydia B ](https://beinglydia.com) Feb 20, 2017 This post fits in with a lot of thoughts I have had lately. Pain seems to be a superior being that has us in its grasp no matter what choices we make. We can choose to “lay low” and not overextend ourselves and we will feel more pain for not giving our bodies movement. We can choose to “take a night off” and do what we want, knowing full well we will be in even more pain for at least a day after. Thanks for putting it so eloquently. - [ Sheryl Chan ](https://achronicvoice.com/) Feb 20, 2017 Hi Lydia, I think pain will always be part of our thoughts, as it is part of who we are (a body gone wild!). Fear does have a purpose, as it serves to protect us. The difficulty lies in judging when it is being unreasonable, and then pushing ourselves to overcome it, which is another sort of exhausting. I am glad the post is relatable to you, and know that those of us like you truly do get you. Take care! **Start a new conversation in the Member Comments below!**