Progress I Didn't Notice at First
I used to measure growth by how different I felt.
Now, I'm learning to measure it by how differently I respond.
There are moments when I realize I'm handling things with more calm than before. I pause more easily. I choose my words with greater care. I don't feel the same urgency to explain, defend, or prove myself. These changes didn't arrive all at once—but they arrived.
Quietly. Steadily.
Small Shifts, Real Change
Growth doesn't always announce itself. Sometimes it shows up as fewer regrets at the end of the day. Sometimes it looks like peace where there used to be tension. Sometimes it's simply the ability to sit with discomfort without letting it undo me.
Those small shifts matter.
They are evidence that the work is working—even when I don't feel dramatically transformed.
Learning to Trust the Direction
I don't have to see the entire path to know I'm moving forward. Direction matters more than speed. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Faith has helped me release the pressure to arrive quickly. I'm learning to trust that steady steps—taken with intention—are enough.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9
That promise isn't about rushing.
It's about continuing.
Encouragement I'm Learning to Give Myself
There was a time when encouragement had to come from outside me. Now, I'm learning how to offer it inward—to acknowledge effort, honor restraint, and recognize progress without waiting for validation.
I am becoming someone who keeps going.
Not perfectly.
Not loudly.
But faithfully.
Becoming With Confidence
This chapter isn't a declaration that the work is finished. It's a reminder that the work is real—and that forward movement doesn't require constant struggle.
I'm still becoming.
And I'm encouraged by who I already am.