How do lobsters grow
Let’s talk lobsters. Not the kind you eat with butter, but the ones living in the ocean. Growing, evolving, living it up, just like us.
Lobsters have a serious problem on their claws: They don’t grow the way humans do. They are mushy creatures encased in hard shells that do not expand. For a moment, their rigid exoskeletons provide them stability and protection. But those shells will not grow with them.
As lobsters get bigger, their shells become too tight, too restrictive and, eventually, unbearable. Lobsters are left with only one choice: shed the shell entirely.
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This process, called molting, is not exactly fun. Lobsters crack open their shells and wiggle out. They are left soft and completely exposed to the world around them. Defenseless and vulnerable, they must wait until their new shells harden — ones that are stronger, larger and better fit for the next phase of their lives. It’s a difficult and stressful process, but they wouldn’t grow without it.
Sound familiar?
People like stability. They like comfort. But growth doesn’t happen in the safety of what you already know. Like lobsters, you outgrow things — jobs, habits, beliefs or “comfortable” situations that keep you stagnant. And when this happens, it gets uncomfortable. Maybe you’re being pushed in a way that challenges you, or you feel unsettled in a situation that felt fine before. That discomfort, that tightness? That’s a sign of growth.
Growth requires change and, unfortunately, change is uncomfortable. The lobster doesn’t just get to wake up in a larger shell. It has to go through the stressful process of being temporarily vulnerable.
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We are the same way. Whether you’re stepping into a leadership role, learning a new skill or leaving behind something (or someone) familiar, true growth means stepping into discomfort. Even if it’s scary, you need to let go of what no longer fits. Look for the bigger shell.
Think about the moments that have shaped you the most. Were they easy? Probably not. Were they stressful? Definitely.
But stress isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s a sign that you’re in the middle of your own molting. The key is to realize that discomfort and stress cannot be avoided. They’re things to move through.
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So, what can we learn from the lobster?
If you’re feeling uncomfortable, it might mean you’re growing. Change is supposed to be weird at first. Instead of resisting it, lean in.
Growth requires letting go of old versions of yourself. The lobster doesn’t try to squeeze into its old shell — it moves forward, and so should you. So, go shell shopping!
Times of stress are temporary, but what’s ahead of you is bigger and better than what you’re leaving behind.
The next time you feel overwhelmed or stuck in a period of stress, just remember: You’re not stuck. You’re just in the middle of molting.
Strike Out,
Writer: Sofia Bravo
Editor: Olivia Evans
Sofia Bravo is a writer for Strike Magazine Gainesville. When she’s not forcing her friends to pose for her digital camera, you can find her remodeling her Spotify playlists for the hundredth time or starting another book she knows she won’t finish. You can reach her on Instagram, @sofiebravo, or by email at sofiebravo26@gmail.com.
