Recognize Personal Growth by Looking Back at Your Journey

Here you are, wondering…”It’s the middle of June, have I actually done anything this year?” It may feel like you’re in the same spot, doing the same things, and that nothing has changed over the days, months, and years. But the fact is, you are always growing and evolving…the question is, are you doing so in the direction you want?

Look back on the last 6 months. What has changed? It may be subtle. You may have even forgotten a lot of what occurred…even the big things you thought you ‘couldn’t forget’.

Try to write down all that you remember. This will remind you of other things that have fallen from top of mind. Maybe even inquire friends or family to see what they remember.

Recognize Personal Growth Through Reflection 

Notice what direction you’ve taken. What’s moving forward, what’s staying fairly stagnant, and what is degrading? There will always be some things in each category, and that’s ok. The question is, are they the things YOU want to be in said category?

Are the items moving forward the ones you want to be working on and improving? These would be the items that you want more of. Those things that you are actively working to bring into your life.

Are the items staying stagnant things that do well just being as they are? These are the items that can float along for a while and still be ok for a while. But watch out, these are also the items that, if untended, could easily slip into the next category.

Are the things that are degrading items you wish to release and let go of? These are things that you wish were no longer in your life: ‘bad’ habits, old stories, unsupportive relationships, etc.

By taking some time to review and reflect, you can notice when something important starts to slip into the stagnation or degrading categories. This noticing gives you the opportunity to pivot and try something different to pull that item back up into the improving category.

It’s also an opportunity to see where things you’d like to release from your life have actually moved up into the working on and improving category. Those pesky old habits and stories that are bound and determined to stay ‘important’ and lead you into spaces you no longer wish to be.

Seeing the Signs of Personal Growth 

You are the captain of your lifeboat and while you may be very comfortable navigating the craggy shores and rough seas, you might just enjoy sailing into a calm bay and having a picnic on a soft sandy beach.

But one thing is certain…you need to direct your boat to that bay. If you just let the ocean of life take you in its current, you don’t really know where you’ll end up.

This time of reflection gives you the information on where your boat is sailing so that you can pivot your sails, patch up your boat, and make your way to the shore you desire.

There’s no shame in finding that you may be a little (or a lot) off course. Sometimes the sea of life can get really rough that it throws us off course. Sometimes it can be so peaceful that we just sit back and relax so long that we drift off course without noticing.

It’s by stopping for a moment to examine what’s occurred and notice where we are now that we can redirect our path and commit to what it is we want in our lives.

Recognize Personal Growth and Adjust Your Course 

So, take a moment to reflect on your journey so far. Notice where you’ve started to hold boundaries without guilt. Notice where situations that used to throw you off course no longer affect you as strongly. See the moments where you may have stumbled, but recovered more quickly than before. These are all signs that you’ve grown and improved your life in subtle ways that have now become normal.

My father used to say, “Is what you’re thinking and doing conducive to what you want in your life?” If it is, GREAT! If it’s not, then it’s time to pivot.

After taking a moment to reflect, you may discover something surprising. You have changed more than you realized. The growth may not have been loud or dramatic, but it has been happening all along. Every boundary you've strengthened, every challenge you've recovered from, and every old story you've begun to leave behind is evidence that you are not the same person you were six months, one year, or even five years ago.

As you recognize how far you've come, this is also a wonderful time to reconnect with where you'd like to go next. If you'd like a little help exploring what may be waiting for you beyond the horizon, download my free BIG Dream Visualization. In just a few minutes, you'll have the opportunity to quiet the noise, reconnect with what matters most to you, and imagine what your next chapter could look like. Sometimes the clearest path forward begins by recognizing how far you've already traveled.