Why We Underestimate Our Growth?

Have you ever scrolled through social media, feeling like everyone else is living some picture-perfect life — landing dream internships, building empires, jet-setting to exotic locations? Meanwhile, you’re stressing about deadlines, questioning your skills, and wondering if you’ll ever “get there.”

This feeling of inadequacy is all too common. But here’s the surprising truth: you’re probably doing much better than you think. We often underestimate our progress, falling victim to the “progress paradox.”

Let me share a personal story that perfectly illustrates this. Last October, my university asked me to participate in a series of videos documenting my progress in various areas. The initial thought? Major cringe (ó﹏ò) But then I realized, why not?

Fast forward to last week — the video series finally came out. And let me tell you, it was a game-changer. At the time of filming, I was feeling overwhelmed with my studies, unsure of my programming abilities, and generally critical of myself. But seeing my “old self” on screen made me realize just how far I’d come.

My English had improved dramatically. My communication skills were sharper. My confidence, vision, and even my dreams had all shifted significantly in just six months. It was a powerful reminder of the progress I’d made, the progress I might have completely missed without documented evidence!

So, why do we underestimate our growth? Here are a couple of culprits:

• Social media: Social media is a breeding ground for comparing ourselves to others’ seemingly perfect highlight reels. We forget that everyone struggles, and those curated online profiles don’t show the messy journey behind the scenes.
• The Cult of Perfection: We get caught up in the idea of needing to be “perfect” right now, right from the start. This perfectionism can be paralyzing, causing us to downplay any progress that doesn’t meet some unrealistic standard.
• The “There’s Always Someone Better” Trap: There’s an old saying: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” When we’re in constant competition with others, we overlook our own progress and potential. It’s vital to understand that there will always be someone ahead of us in some way or another. But does that mean our efforts are futile? Absolutely not.

Keep in mind that someone else’s success doesn’t diminish your own!

Here’s how to break free from the progress paradox and celebrate your true journey:

• Track Your Progress: Just like my video series, find ways to document your progress. This could be a bullet journal, a habit tracker app, or even — you guessed it — recording yourself at regular intervals. Revisiting these records will be a powerful reminder of how far you’ve come.
• Challenge Your Inner Critic: That nagging voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough? Learn to challenge it. Instead of negativity, practice self-compassion. Talk to yourself like you would a friend who’s feeling discouraged.
• Focus on the “Before and After”: Comparison is a thief of joy, but comparing yourself to your own past self? That’s a recipe for motivation. Look back at where you were and acknowledge the strides you’ve made.

Remember, progress isn’t a perfectly drawn linear function. There will be setbacks, and there will be doubts, in fact, it is more of a sinusoidal function it gets up it gets down but always ahead ✨.

You’ve got this! Because even the smallest wave, with persistence, can carve a path through solid rock ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ