Celebrating Progress: You’re Not Who You Used to Be

Growth isn’t always dramatic. In fact, most transformation happens quietly. It unfolds in small decisions, personal breakthroughs, and subtle shifts that others may not notice. At Ashe Counseling & Coaching, we often remind our clients that healing is not about perfection. It’s about movement. You don’t need to reinvent your life to recognize that you’ve changed. Sometimes the most powerful progress is simply becoming someone you feel proud to be.

What Progress Really Looks Like
Personal growth is often mistaken for big moments. A new job, a fresh relationship, a major life decision. While those are meaningful, the deeper changes often happen behind the scenes. Progress can look like:
• Saying no without guilt
• Prioritizing your mental health without needing a reason
• Ending a cycle that once felt impossible to escape
• Responding with calm instead of reacting from fear
• Allowing yourself to rest without trying to earn it

These are not just habits. They are signs that your thinking is shifting. You are choosing yourself in ways you once didn’t believe you could. That matters.

Why It’s Hard to Notice Your Own Growth
Many people struggle to recognize their growth because it doesn’t always look or feel how they expected. We live in a culture that celebrates productivity and perfection. Because of this, progress that feels slow or internal can be overlooked.

At Ashe Counseling, we hear clients say things like, “I should be further along,” or “I feel like I’m stuck.” When we dig deeper, we often find they are holding themselves to unrealistic standards or comparing their healing to someone else’s highlight reel.

Growth is not always a forward sprint. Sometimes it’s a pause. Sometimes it’s staying present in discomfort instead of avoiding it. Sometimes it’s realizing you have a choice when you didn’t before.

How to Know If You’re Growing
If you’re not sure whether you’ve made progress, ask yourself:
• Do I respond differently to stress than I used to?
• Am I more aware of my emotional needs?
• Have I stopped trying to prove myself to people who don’t value me?
• Do I offer myself more compassion when I fall short?
• Can I name things I used to tolerate that I no longer accept?

These are signs of growth. They may not come with applause, but they deserve acknowledgment.

You Don’t Have to Be “Healed” to Be Proud
Struggling does not mean you are broken. It means you are human. Growth includes setbacks, doubt, and days where progress feels invisible. You do not have to be completely healed to be proud of how far you’ve come.

It is okay to be a work in progress. You can hold both gratitude and grief. You can be growing and still feel uncertain. The key is to keep moving with intention and care.

Your Growth Deserves to Be Celebrated
Take a moment today to reflect on your journey. Think about the things you used to tolerate. Think about the boundaries you have learned to set. Think about the version of you who didn’t know what you know now.

You are not who you used to be. That is not only okay. It is something worth celebrating.

And if you are looking for a place to keep growing, to keep doing the work, Ashe Counseling is here. Our therapists are here to help you name your progress, reclaim your peace, and move forward with confidence.

Ashe Counseling & Coaching
Virtual and in-person therapy for clients in Illinois and Texas