Sometimes Growth Happens Behind the Waterfall

Last week, I stood behind a waterfall in Iceland. (And for all the Jungle Cruise fans out there, I did find the backside of water!)

First I stood in front for the postcard-perfect photo. Then next to it. Then I rallied the courage to walk up the slippery slope to go behind it.

The experience was completely different than I expected. Approaching the waterfall from the front and walking around the side, the roar of the waterfall was LOUD and I was VERY glad to have my $19.99 rain pants and my waterproof sneakers. I was cautious walking up on the wet rocks and the path.

But then I got to back and surprisingly, it was quieter and drier. It was peaceful. And from that angle, I could see things I never would have seen from the front: a completely different perspective.

I could suddenly see:

The landscape beyond it.

The people reacting to it.

The movement of water from a new angle.

The layers of rocks and mountains.

A perspective I would have missed if I only stood in the safe and obvious place.

It hit me that this is what happens when we experience a “squiggle” in life or work.

Most of us naturally want the front-facing view of our lives with the clear plan, the predictable outcome, the polished story, the postcard photo. We prefer the version that makes sense immediately.

But real growth rarely happens that way. Careers change, unexpected setbacks happen, leadership becomes challenging, and we have moments of uncertainty that push us out of our comfort zone and into unfamiliar territory.

And then you try something new. You go off the path and your perspective changes. Clarity doesn’t always come instantly. Sometimes you just feel wet, uncomfortable, and unsure of your footing.

But often, that new angle reveals something important you couldn’t see before.

That setback becomes redirection.
The delay creates space for something bigger and better.
That role you thought defined you no longer fits.
The thing your team has been resisting actually helps them grow.

Not because it's easy, but because changing perspective can change everything.

So instead of asking, “How do I get back to the original path?” maybe the better question to ask is:

“What can I see from here that I couldn’t see before?”

And if you need a thought partner on how to see the back of the waterfall and create a new path forward for you or your team, let's connect.