You know you’re moving forward in life if you recognize these 5 signs

A few months back, I was grabbing coffee with a friend who seemed pretty down about where his life was heading. He kept going on about how he felt stuck, like everyone around him was moving forward while he was just spinning his wheels.

But here’s the thing—as he talked, I started noticing all these subtle signs that he was actually making real progress. He’d started setting boundaries with toxic people, was taking on challenges at work he would’ve avoided a year ago, and had this quiet confidence about him that wasn’t there before.

The conversation got me thinking: we’re often so focused on the big, obvious milestones that we miss the smaller indicators of genuine growth happening right under our noses.

Progress isn’t always about landing the dream job or hitting some major life goal. Sometimes it’s much more subtle than that—and often more meaningful.

If you’re wondering whether you’re actually moving forward, here are five signs that suggest you’re on the right track, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

1. You’re actually excited about challenges instead of avoiding them

Remember when you used to see a difficult situation coming and your first instinct was to find an escape route?

If you’ve started leaning into challenges rather than running from them, that’s huge progress. As Dr. Carol Dweck from Stanford University puts it: “In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, oh, I’m going to reveal my weaknesses, you say, wow, here’s a chance to grow.” 

This shift doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of gradually building confidence in your ability to handle whatever life throws at you.

Maybe you volunteered for that intimidating project at work, or you decided to have that difficult conversation you’d been putting off for months. These moments might feel small, but they’re actually evidence of a fundamental change in how you approach life.

When challenges start looking like opportunities instead of threats, you know you’re moving in the right direction.

2. You’re becoming more comfortable with who you really are

There’s something liberating about reaching a point where you stop trying to be the person you think others want you to be.

If you’ve noticed yourself caring less about fitting in and more about being authentic, that’s a clear sign of progress. You might find yourself speaking up when you disagree, wearing what makes you feel good, or pursuing interests that others don’t quite understand.

This shift toward authenticity isn’t always easy. As shaman and author Rudá Iandê explains: “You have both the right and responsibility to explore and try until you know yourself deeply.” 

I’ve seen this in my own life—there was a time when I’d carefully curate my opinions based on who I was talking to. Now? I’m way more comfortable just being myself, even if it means some people won’t vibe with me.

When you stop exhausting yourself trying to be someone else, you free up all that energy for actual growth and meaningful connections.

3. You’re taking ownership of your circumstances instead of blaming everything else

This one might sting a little, but it’s probably the most important sign of progress you can look for.

If you’ve started asking “What can I do differently?” instead of “Why does this always happen to me?”, you’re making a massive shift. It’s the difference between being a victim of your circumstances and being the author of your own story.

I used to blame everything on bad timing, difficult people, or just plain bad luck. But at some point, I realized that focusing on what I couldn’t control was keeping me stuck. The moment I started taking responsibility—even for things that weren’t entirely my fault—everything began to change.

This doesn’t mean beating yourself up over every setback. It means recognizing that you have more power than you think to influence your situation.

4. You’re actually making changes instead of just talking about them

We all know someone who’s been saying they’re going to start that business, learn that skill, or make that big life change for years.

If you’re not that person anymore, that’s huge progress.

Maybe you finally started that workout routine instead of just buying gym memberships you never use. Or you began learning that language instead of just downloading apps that collect digital dust.

These actions might seem small, but they represent a fundamental shift from intention to execution.

5. You’re becoming less reactive and more resilient

Last but not least, if you’re bouncing back faster from disappointments and not getting completely derailed by every curveball life throws at you, that’s serious progress.

This isn’t about becoming emotionless or pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. It’s about developing the emotional resilience to feel your feelings without letting them control your entire life trajectory.

You might notice you’re sleeping better after stressful days, or you’re able to have perspective during difficult situations. These are signs that you’ve built internal resources that can weather life’s inevitable storms.

Final words

Progress isn’t always loud or obvious. It doesn’t usually come with fanfare or Instagram-worthy moments. Most of the time, it’s quiet, subtle, and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.

My friend from that coffee shop conversation? Recently, he landed a promotion and started dating someone who actually appreciated him for who he was. But the real progress had been happening long before any of that—in all those small moments when he chose growth over comfort.

The truth is, if you recognize even a couple of these signs in your own life, you’re doing better than you think. Forward movement doesn’t always feel like forward movement, especially when you’re in the middle of it.

So cut yourself some slack. Celebrate the small wins. Acknowledge the person you’re becoming, not just the person you think you should be by now.