We often move through life in a hurry, solving, striving, building, becoming.
But in all that motion, we forget to pause long enough to notice something quietly profound:
We’ve come far.
Sometimes farther than we give ourselves credit for.
This piece is your reminder to slow down, breathe, and honour the many moments that brought you here.
Why We Overlook Our Growth
Growth doesn’t always feel like growth while we’re in it.
It happens in real time: in tiny decisions, in small acts of courage, in showing up on days when you wanted to disappear.
We overlook our growth because:
We’ve normalised what used to be difficult;
We compare our progress to someone else’s timeline;
We expect growth to be loud, dramatic, or obvious;
We forget that internal shifts count too.
As Dr. Clement often says:
“Life doesn’t shout your progress; it whispers it.
You notice it only when you’re quiet enough to listen.”
A Story for Your Journey
A few years ago, a young designer named Ama began her career with shaky hands and a borrowed laptop. She doubted herself often, second-guessed her creativity, and compared her early results with people who had been in the field for years.
But Ama kept showing up.
One evening,two weeks ago, while sorting through old folders, she accidentally opened a design she made in 2023. She paused. Then smiled. Then she laughed.
Not because the old work was terrible, but because she couldn’t believe she ever thought she hadn’t grown.
In that moment she realised:
Growth hides in plain sight. But it reveals itself when you pause long enough to compare who you were… with who you’ve quietly become.
You have a story like that too. You just haven’t revisited your “old folders” long enough to notice.
The Psychology of Celebrating Wins
Research consistently shows that recognising personal wins activates the brain’s reward system, reinforcing habits that support long-term growth.
In fact:
Studies show that celebrating small wins can increase motivation by up to 30%.
Neuroscience research reveals that even brief moments of self-recognition release dopamine, strengthening the pathways that make progress easier over time.
Harvard Business Review reports that tracking small wins boosts daily joy, confidence, and future performance.
But more than science, celebrating your wins does something deeper:
It affirms your capacity
It strengthens your self-trust
It creates emotional resilience
It transforms effort into meaning
Celebration isn’t vanity.
It’s nourishment.
As Dr. Clement puts it:
“Affirming your progress is not self-indulgence; it is self-preservation.”
Small Wins vs Big Milestones
Milestones are beautiful. They mark your evolution in big, memorable moments.
But small wins carry a different kind of power.
They are steady, quiet, and often unnoticed… yet they build the life you dream of.
Small wins include:
Saying “no” without guilt
Resting when your body asks
Being kinder to yourself
Learning something new
Keeping a promise you made to yourself
Every milestone you’ve achieved was built on hundreds of these tiny victories.
In Dr. Clement’s words:
“Never despise the day of small shifts; They are the roots of big changes.”
A Self-Recognition Exercise
Take two minutes.
Find a still moment.
Now ask yourself these three gentle questions:
1. What am I doing today that the “me” from two years ago prayed for?
2. What quiet strength have I gained without even noticing?
3. Where have I shown courage, even in small ways?
Write down your answers.
Read them back to yourself.
Let them land.
This is how you begin to see what has always been true:
You have grown deeply.
A Celebration Ritual + Journaling Guide
Create a simple ritual that grounds you, something small but meaningful enough to mark and monitor your progress.
Your ritual could be:
Lighting a candle and speaking one win aloud
Taking yourself on a quiet gratitude walk
Playing your “victory song”
Sending a thank-you message to someone who supported your growth
Treating yourself to something symbolic, not extravagant
Then journal with these guides:
What win from this week made me feel quietly proud?
What part of me showed up with strength?
What win have I been downplaying that deserves recognition?
What progress do I want to honour today?
If I could speak kindly to myself about my journey, what would I say?
Let this be your reminder:
You’ve come farther than you think.
You’re becoming more than you know.
And you deserve to celebrate every step.