When was the last time you took a pulse check on yourself? What was the moment that pushed you into adult territory? Maybe it’s happening right now…or maybe it hasn’t happened at all. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact moment. Often, the realization hits you during a moment of reflection. There are certain tell-tale signs that you’re moving forward in your journey. Here are my personal top 5:
See also: Don’t Forget to Tell The Boys ‘I Love You’>>>
5. You Can Laugh at Yourself
Remember how you would cringe thinking about that old relationship of yours? Or how you used to always end up with the “best” party stories which were really just a collection of too many drinks and not enough self control? Well, if you now find yourself laughing as you relive these moments through dinner party stories, you’ve grown past that phase. Lets chalk those experiences up to lessons learned shall we?
ADVERTISEMENT  |
4. Self-Focus
You stopped caring so much about how you look to others as well as what they think about you. Instead you’ve turned inward and focused all that energy into caring for your mind, your body, and your soul. Whether through meditation, exercise, or focusing on the positives, whatever your approach is, keep it up. Read more, listen to podcasts, learn. Ultimately your sole focus should be the betterment of you (in a healthy reasonable way of course).
3. Health
Yes, all those parties were fun and yes, they made for great stories. But now you take your health more seriously. Sleep is super important, it’s your body’s natural steroid for rejuvenating all the strain you’ve put on it. Spend more time at the gym or just outdoors moving. Become more selective about what you consume and more importantly, what you don’t. Have you had enough water yet today?
2. Hindsight 20/20
Should have, could have, would have. You no longer relive the past to judge or dwell on the what could have been. We all catch ourselves replaying moments, things we could have done better or ways we should have shown up for someone. Instead, you now focus on the lessons learned from those moments and use that as a guide to chart your path forward.
ADVERTISEMENT |
1. Ownership
One of the most important signs. You own who you once were, flaws and all, and accept that you are no longer that person. The version of you that once existed does not define you. Learn to accept your decisions for what they were. You don’t know what you don’t know. read that again. Ultimately, each day is a new page, so move forward with purpose and intention.
This is by no means an exhaustive list as there are plenty of indicators for growth. But the fact you’re reading this means you’re already actively thinking about your life. Growth is hard. There’s no definitive indicator or benchmark to direct us. It takes time. Be patient with yourself and keep on moving.
