Progress Doesn't Always Feel Like Progress EP 381

One of the most frustrating things about personal growth is that it rarely announces itself. There's no flashing sign that says, "Congratulations! You're becoming more resilient." Most of the time, progress is quiet. It shows up in the way we are responding, differently than a year ago. It's recovering from a setback a little faster. It's noticing that something which used to consume your thoughts for days now only takes an hour. It’s realizing we’ve tried something new or left behind something that was no longer a good fit.  Those changes are easy to overlook because they don't feel dramatic. We tend to measure progress by big milestones, but life is usually transformed by small moments that happen over and over again. If you're feeling discouraged because it seems like you're not getting anywhere, take a moment to look backward instead of forward. A coach once told me that we often become “puddle jumpers”. We work hard to get to the puddle but once we’re there, we jump over it and start looking for the next one.  Who are you today that you weren't six months ago? A year ago? I bet you'll find evidence that you've grown in ways you never stopped to celebrate. You just jumped over it and kept on going. Today's dose of hope: Progress isn't always obvious while you're living it. Trust that the small steps you're taking today are creating the person you'll be tomorrow.