Are you forgetting to look back?

So often in life we are focused on the future, and the gap between where we are and where we want to be.

It can feel hard to see how we will get to the destination. We can feel like we are a long way off, and maybe that we will never arrive.

We can end up…

Focusing on how far we have to go, rather than where we are.
Reviewing what we haven’t done, rather than what we have.
Measuring ourselves harshly against expected progress, rather than actual progress.

We can forget to to look behind us to celebrate the journey we’ve already made.

This theme came up in conversation with brilliant human and fellow coach Merada Richter, and prompted me to reflect on how many places I’m noticing it right now:

With many of the people I coach who have started new roles, and feel they aren’t anywhere near where they “should” be yet.
With my daughter as she works her way through an endless sea of GCSE revision.
In my own life, as I deep dive into the joy of a new study area and get caught in how much I have to learn.

In each case it can feel like a mountain to climb, with a feeling of overwhelm at how far it is to the top.

So, what can help?

Taking a moment to acknowledge the overwhelm and scale.
Looking back to see where you started and appreciate the progress you have already made.
Taking the pressure off the timeline - do you really have to be in a certain place by a certain time?
Breaking the journey ahead into phases and stages - you don’t have to get there in one leap.
Deciding how you will measure progress along the way - and then keeping track of it.

It’s much more fun to grow when we know we are growing.

It’s much easier to keep going if we can appreciate how far we’ve already come.

So, next time you’re feeling like you are a long way off, take a look back to see how far you’ve come - and appreciate the view.

Where am I now?

How does that compare to where I was?

And what’s the easiest next step to take from here?

Wishing you all a week of celebrating the journey,