The Beauty of Becoming

Ever felt like you’re falling behind—like there’s some invisible finish line everyone else seems to be nearing while you’re still stuck at the starting line? You’re not alone.

These days, we’re surrounded by highlight reels. Scrolling through social media, you see someone else’s perfect home, thriving career, or peaceful morning routine. Meanwhile, you’re trying to remember if you moved the laundry from the washer to the dryer.

It’s easy to slip into that feeling of not measuring up. And when the news is full of stress, fear, and doomsday predictions, it adds to the pressure: If I don’t get ahead now, will I ever?

But here’s a radical thought:

What if you’re not behind at all?

What if this constant rush to “arrive” is the very thing stealing your joy?

You're Doing Better Than You Think

Let’s pause. Instead of looking side to side at everyone else’s progress, what if you looked back—at your own?

• Where were you a year ago?

• What felt heavy then that feels lighter now?

• What are you handling with more grace, more wisdom, or more calm?

We often forget that progress is quiet. It shows up in how you respond to your kids after a hard day, how you manage your energy, or how you’re learning to say no when you used to say yes out of guilt. True growth doesn't look like a highlight reel—it lies in simple acts of intention and determination day after day. 

The Reality Behind the Reels

No one shares their full story online. What you’re seeing is the best 10% of someone’s life, edited and filtered. What you don’t see is the tension behind the camera, the arguments, the exhaustion, the doubts that keep them up at night.

You are comparing your everyday real life to someone else’s curated highlights. Of course that’s going to feel discouraging.

But you’re not behind—you’re just seeing an incomplete picture. And your full, honest, beautifully imperfect life is still unfolding in the right direction.

The Trap of Destination Thinking

When we think life is about getting somewhere—checking the boxes, hitting the milestones—we miss what’s right in front of us. We start living in a constant loop of “once I finish this, then I’ll feel better.”

But most of life happens in the middle.

In the process.

In the ordinary Tuesdays that don’t look like much but shape who we’re becoming.

And it’s really hard to enjoy the process when we’re glued to someone else’s progress bar.

5 Ways to Let Go of the Outcome and Embrace the Process

If you’re tired of chasing a finish line that keeps moving, try these grounded steps to re-center your focus:

1. Set Process Goals, Not Outcome Goals

Instead of saying “I need to lose 20 pounds,” try:

→ “I’ll take a 15-minute walk every day this week.”

→ “I’ll eat one homemade meal each day.”

When your goals are tied to actions, you can feel proud of progress, not just results.

2. Build in Moments of Pause

If your day is a nonstop to-do list, you’ll miss the moments that remind you why you started. Try this:

→ Set a 2-minute pause timer once or twice a day.

→ Breathe.

→ Ask yourself, Am I present or just pushing through?

Even short pauses help reset your nervous system and bring you back to the now.

3. Document Small Wins

Keep a “process journal” or note on your phone where you jot down tiny victories:

→ “Got out of bed even though I didn’t feel like it.”

→ “Said no to something that would have drained me.”

→ “Started the project, even if I didn’t finish.”

These small steps are the transformation. Don’t overlook them.

4. Stay in Your Lane

You can’t walk your own path while staring at someone else’s.

Mute, unfollow, or take breaks from any online space that triggers comparison or urgency. The goal isn’t to isolate—it’s to create enough quiet to hear your own voice again.

5. Remind Yourself Why You Started

Most of us started because we wanted something better:

→ Peace in our homes.

→ Margin in our lives.

→ Purpose that runs deeper than productivity.

Revisit your why regularly. When the outcome feels far off, your reasons can help you stay grounded in the process.

You are in the middle of becoming the person you’re meant to be.

Life isn’t about getting there as fast as possible. It’s about becoming someone along the way.

• • So when the noise says you’re behind, remember:

  • You’re doing the work.

  • You’re showing up.

  • You’re growing in ways that don’t always show up on the outside.

That’s not falling behind. That’s becoming.

And you don’t have to rush it.

Keep it simple, 

-Ashley 💛 

Want more simplicity in your life?