Growth And Reflection
Last week, I saw someone I haven’t seen for over four years. At the end of our visit, she recalled a memory of me — that I used to be particularly hard on myself. She was correct. Four years ago, anyone would be accurate to describe me as a rigid, brittle, anxious perfectionist, who was unyielding to herself and others.
She then observed that I am more gentle now, almost five years later. She noted I have softened—I’ve grown and matured in her opinion.
Her words cracked my heart open—hopefully she’s reading this. To have my friend notice that I’ve found ease and tenderness brings tears. It’s a compliment I don’t even know if I’m ready to give myself, but it is the truth.
My friend's insight hit home, highlighting an important aspect that affects every one of us:
Being human predisposes us to self-criticism. Thus, we often feel like we’re going backward or making no progress because of life’s insurmountable dips, twists, and turns.
Yet, we rarely achieve progress and expansion through a straight shot; it’s more like a slow, erratic crawl or an intricate spiral. To understand just how far we’ve come, we first have to pull back and take the proverbial five-year view. In the willingness to soften and zoom out, we remember we deserve more compassion and grace for our growth.
In my tendency towards self-criticism, I hadn’t really looked at the sweeping changes I’ve made. I overlooked my overall progress and missed the bird's-eye view. Hearing my friends’ compliment made me realize how much I’ve achieved in the past five years since I committed to living a more present life. I am confident you’re in the same place, deserving of acknowledgement and grace.
I’ve included journal prompts for this season so that we remember how far we’ve come.
Growth Reflection Journal
Reflection to remember and honor your progress and growth