It is so important to take the time to look back at how far we’ve come. This month’s theme is reflection and we must reflect on where we once were in order to measure our growth and change. Change generally happens gradually, sometimes making annoyingly slow and small progress so that we find ourselves questioning if all this hard work is actually worth anything.
It’s only when we take the time to pause from the grind of pushing forward towards our goals, that we are able to say: yes, the struggle is well worth it.
It’s easy to get lost in the two steps forward, one step back regimen of change to notice if anything is happening. Routines settle in and new lifestyles may not seem new after we have created better habits, making us forget what seemed nearly impossible only a short time ago.
It’s the gift of reflection that reminds us how far we’ve come.
When we take the time to look back at where we were when we started our healing journeys, it allows us to realize that
change IS possible, and
we are brave enough and strong enough to heal ourselves.
This is the fuel that gives us the strength to keep moving along. It can be what changes our perspective from “having to’’ do something to “wanting to” do something. It’s when we look back and admire our accomplishments that we see the proof that we can do really hard things. And we may be inspired to see other aspects of our lives that we want to change but that we once believed would not be possible.
To reflect on our past, we use tools like journaling to document our thoughts and feelings. It helps us capture what’s going on internally at a specific moment in time. And though we are sisters, we both have very different ways of documenting our journeys. Our tools are specific to our personalities and preferences, so that’s why we encourage you to do what works for you.
For example, if time is a factor, bullet journaling in a notebook or video journaling on the phone can be an option. Keeping the journal where it’s most accessible can be a key factor as well. Perhaps someone stores their journal next to their bed stand, while someone else might stash it in their car. Some may prefer to jot it down on their phones, while someone else may prefer pen to paper.
No matter how you decide to document your journey, we highly encourage you to find your own unique way so that you have the ability to go back and reflect on how far you have come. Change is slow sometimes and small changes may seem insignificant, but it all adds up because one small change can lead to another...and another...and another.
We invite you to follow along with us on social media. This month we will be sharing our own documentation on where we once were when we started our journeys. And sharing links to some of our favorite journaling tools. We encourage you to follow along with our story as you discover your own.
With love,
Ming-Wai + Ming-Cee