Present Me: I feel like I should be further along by now. No matter what I do, it never feels like enough. Why does progress take so long? Why am I not where I thought I would be?

Future Me: I hear you. I’ve been exactly where you are. And I want you to take a deep breath and listen closely: you are not behind. You are exactly where you need to be, and your journey is unfolding in its own perfect time.

Present Me: But it doesn’t feel that way. I look around, and it seems like everyone else is moving faster, achieving more. I just feel stuck.

Future Me: That’s because you’re looking at their highlight reels and comparing them to your behind-the-scenes struggles. You don’t see the full picture of their challenges, setbacks, and doubts. You only see the polished parts. Growth isn’t about how fast you move; it’s about moving in the right direction, at the pace that’s right for you.

Present Me: But I want to be successful now. I want to feel like I’m making real progress.

Future Me: And you are making progress. It just doesn’t always look the way you expect. Progress isn’t always big, dramatic moments. It’s the small, consistent steps, the lessons learned through mistakes, the resilience built in the waiting. Just because you don’t see immediate results doesn’t mean nothing is happening.

Present Me: So, what do I do? How do I stop feeling frustrated with myself?

Future Me: You practice patience. And I don’t mean passive waiting—I mean active patience. Let me explain how:

1. Redefine Progress: Progress is not just about reaching goals—it’s about becoming the person who can sustain them. Every experience, even the frustrating ones, is shaping you. Every lesson you learn now is preparing you for what’s ahead. You are growing in ways you can’t even see yet.

2. Stop Measuring Yourself Against Others: Everyone’s timeline is different. Just because someone else seems ahead doesn’t mean you’re behind. You have your own unique path, and it won’t look like anyone else’s. Focus on your journey, not theirs.

3. Celebrate Small Wins: You’re too focused on the mountain ahead and forgetting to acknowledge how far you’ve already climbed. Every step forward, no matter how small, deserves recognition. Did you show up today? Did you try again after failing? Did you learn something new? Those are all victories.

4. Give Yourself the Same Grace You’d Give a Friend: Would you criticize a friend for not being perfect or fast enough? No, you’d encourage them, remind them of how far they’ve come. Why not extend that same kindness to yourself?

5. Trust the Timing of Your Life: Everything is unfolding in divine timing. Some things take longer because they need to. Some things don’t happen right away because there are lessons you need first. Trust that what’s meant for you will not pass you by.

Present Me: That all makes sense, but patience still feels hard. How do I actually practice it when I’m feeling frustrated?

Future Me: When frustration arises, pause and remind yourself: This is part of the process. Growth takes time. Then, shift your focus to what you can do instead of what you feel isn’t happening fast enough. Here are a few ways:

 Breathe and ground yourself in the present. Patience lives in the present moment, not in the anxious rush toward the future.

 Reframe your self-talk. Instead of “I should be further along,” say, “I’m learning and growing every day.”

 Keep a journal of small wins. Write down moments of progress, lessons learned, and things you’re grateful for.

 Find joy in the journey. Stop waiting to be happy only when you reach the goal. Find meaning in the process itself.

Present Me: I like that idea. I guess I have been so focused on where I want to be that I haven’t appreciated where I am.

Future Me: Exactly. And one day, you’ll look back at this season and realize it was shaping you in ways you couldn’t see at the time. You’ll see that the waiting wasn’t wasted—it was building you into the person who could handle what you were asking for.

Present Me: So, I just need to trust that I’m growing, even when it doesn’t feel like it?

Future Me: Yes. And trust that patience isn’t about inaction—it’s about steady, consistent movement forward. Keep taking small steps. Keep believing in yourself. Keep showing up. And I promise, everything will come together exactly as it should.

Present Me: That’s really reassuring. Thank you.

Future Me: You’re welcome. And remember—be patient with yourself. You’re doing better than you think. Keep going.

Read more …Believe, Play , Plan, Execute: A Conversation with My Future Self