My past is only a benchmark for my present and future progression. Where I started does not dictate where I will end up. It is only a starting point, from which I launch into better things.

I am not defined by my past, but I do not allow myself to forget it either because it reminds me of how far I have come.

I compare myself only to me, gauging progress from where I began. I do not compare myself to anyone else. Everyone has his own history, his own personality, his own unique set of circumstances that shaped him and placed him where he is today.

I am not everyone. I am, simply, me.

I have my own history that has shaped me, and therefore my progress can only be effectively evaluated by looking at where I have come from.

I am not defined by how far I have yet to go, nor am I compared to the success of others. No one is better than anyone. We are merely, different.

Everyone has his own path to run. Comparing my journey to someone else’s will lead only to arrogance or discouragement. The best thing I can do for myself is to keep my gaze on my own path, evaluating my progress only by how far I, myself, have come.

And I extend the same courtesy to others, allowing them the freedom to walk their own paths at their own pace, knowing that there is no universal measuring stick, that progress can only be gauged by how far one has come.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How far have I come in my personal journey?
2. What lets me know that I have made progress?
3. Am I using anyone else’s journey to try to evaluate my own progression?