Two Things Can Be True at the Same Time: Feeling Peace While Still Struggling

"Two things can be true at the same time."

I say this a lot. And honestly? Most people don’t get it at first. Drop it in a first session and some clients might give you the “Wait… what?” look. They come in expecting instant healing. Calm, happy, sleeping like a baby, problem solved.

Yeah… that’s not how life works.

Healing and progress aren’t all-or-nothing. You can feel calmer, happier, freer—and still wake up at 5 a.m., jittery, heart racing, stuck in your mind. And guess what? That’s okay. That’s life. That’s growth.

And here’s the kicker: people usually only really understand this once they’ve been through coaching—or lived it. Before that, it can feel like an excuse. But once you’ve shifted your mindset, processed emotions, and noticed small wins, it clicks. And when it does… it’s liberating.

Why People Don’t Get It at First

Most clients walk in thinking: “I’m going to leave healed today.”

So when I say, “Yes, you’re doing better, but also… you’re not perfect yet,” it can feel frustrating. Confusing. Maybe even annoying.

But then the magic happens. They start seeing it in their own lives. They give me examples:

• “I slept poorly last night, but I’m still making progress.”

• “I can accept my past, but forgiveness isn’t here yet.”

• “I feel calmer in my mind, even if my body wakes early.”

  
  

That’s when the quote stops being words on a page and starts being lived truth.

My Personal Example

Let me be real with you. Early in my coaching career, someone took advantage of me at a vulnerable time. They sold me coaching business advice I wasn’t ready for.

Processing it wasn’t instant. Acceptance came first—I eventually found peace with what happened. Forgiveness? Much later. For a long time, both were true: I had accepted it, but I couldn’t forgive yet.

Both things. At the same time.

And that’s exactly how progress works in life—and sleep. You can feel calm and grounded while parts of your body or nervous system haven’t caught up. That doesn’t erase your progress. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. Integration takes time.

Client Story: Mira

Now let’s talk about Mira. She’s a hardworking mom with a coaching business, incredibly capable, always giving her all. When she first came to me, she thought she had a handle on her past trauma. But “having a handle” often just means pushing emotions down. Real handling? Feeling them, sitting with them, experiencing them fully.

Over three months, Mira did the work. She cried, reflected, and faced emotions she’d been avoiding for years. When we spoke again a few months later, you could hear it in her voice: calmer, freer, happier.

And yet… she still woke up at 5 a.m., jittery, nervous energy buzzing through her body.

Her response? “Two things can be true at the same time.”

She could feel freedom and peace—and still notice her body hadn’t fully caught up. That’s when the quote landed. When it stopped being confusing and started feeling real.

Why This Matters

Here’s the thing: this principle changes how we see progress, sleep, and healing.

• You release self-judgment. Bad nights or tension don’t erase progress. Struggle doesn’t equal failure.

• You celebrate progress. Even if sleep patterns or emotional habits lag behind, you’ve done the hard work—and that counts.

• You trust the process. Healing, nervous system alignment, and sleep cycles take time. Integration doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s okay.

Practical Tips to Make This Real

1. Notice both the good and the bad. Where are you thriving? Where are you struggling?

2. Say it out loud or write it down. Example: “I feel calmer and happier, but my sleep is still restless.”

3. Celebrate the good without fighting the bad. Both exist. Both matter.

4. Trust that your body, mind, and nervous system will catch up. 

5. Growth isn’t linear.

   
   

If you want a real-world example of noticing small shifts in life that affect sleep, check out my previous blog: What a Frustrated Cashier Taught Me About Struggling to Sleep.

Reflection

Take a moment. Think about your life right now:

• Where do you feel progress, even if something still challenges you?

• Where are you calmer or happier, but old patterns or tension remain?

• Where are you thriving, but forgiveness, rest, or peace hasn’t fully arrived?

  
  

Acknowledging both sides doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. And it allows you to hold space for yourself without judgment, pressure, or frustration.

Life and healing are rarely all-or-nothing. You can feel calm, joyful, and grounded—and still struggle. You can make progress while noticing challenges. You can accept what’s happening, even if forgiveness or full integration takes longer.

Recognizing this is liberating. It allows you to celebrate wins, let go of judgment, and trust that your body, mind, and emotions will align over time.

The moment clients truly get this is magical. They see it in their lives. They feel it in their bodies. They understand that progress and struggle don’t cancel each other out—they coexist.

Ready to explore your own “two things at the same time” and start integrating calm, peace, and better sleep into your life? Book a 30-minute session with me here and let’s see where your journey can take you.