REMEMBER WHERE YOU STARTED
“It’s really easy to forget where
you started.”
I posted this little bit as an instagram caption, a few weeks back.
It’s true.
It is really easy.
We forget that our lives haven’t always consisted of our current routines. We forget insecurities after we’ve found greater confidence in other areas. We forget certain trials if the payoff has been incredibly sweet…
And maybe we aren’t at the point of patting ourselves on the back…but how often do you look back with pride and compare the present you to another, past you?
Dwelling in the past can be detrimental, sure….
What about acknowledging growth?
Acknowledging growth can be very encouraging and is also a good focus to have in any seasonal transition (hence fall to winter, currently). Acknowledging growth reminds us that even if things presently feel stuck or quite steady, there is always more space for you to expand “yourself” in the future.
How are you acknowledging growth?
There are a few ways I actively acknowledge THEN vs. NOW.
When I read past journal entries, I’m always surprised by how distant my language, my thought processes, my concerns, my habits and my worries are, from my current self. When I look at old pictures, I can transport myself back to the moment the photo was taken and what was important to me at that time. In my recent reflection on growth, I realized that certain relationships have been highlights in my journey. Perhaps in your reflection, think of how losing or letting go of connections with people in your life, made space for you to move in bold ways or forced you into different directions. Or vice versa, how gaining some sort of confidant, opened your eyes to new ways of understanding yourself or allowed you to be more compassionate, empathetic, giving, etc. Maybe this reflection will allow you to rekindle community with a friend, a relative, a love interest….
Regardless, I think that reflecting on the past can actually help us in our present goals.
Recently I’ve been more hyper-focused on this because I’ve been in the process of reminding myself why I started and what my younger self believed my future (or present, in this case) self was capable of. As a side note, I always think that you should listen more to the child within. Yes, there are some childhood dreams that are not realistic, but I think that staying in tune with the essence of what made you happy is important. If you were an attention grabbing child, you don’t have to go through with your dream of being a performer but perhaps you like the idea of leading and directing groups of people…and so how does that fit into your life now? My teenage self wanted so badly to be a dancer because I loved the process of diving into class or new work and achieving new goals. I also wanted to hone my craft. I think when I graduated, I stopped learning for a little bit and just doing, but you see, that doesn’t align with why I started this journey at all.