How do I deal with feeling like I'm not making progress in life?

Feeling like you're not making progress in life is frustrating and can stem from having unrealistic expectations about how quickly adapting to change should happen or from focusing only on major milestones while ignoring smaller improvements. Progress is often gradual and cumulative, happening in ways that aren't immediately visible or dramatic. You might be making significant internal progress - developing better coping skills, gaining self-awareness, or healing from past wounds - that doesn't translate into obvious external changes right away. Sometimes the feeling of stagnation comes from comparing your progress to others' apparent success, especially on social media where people share their highlights without showing the slow, difficult work that led to those moments. You might also be measuring progress against external standards that don't align with your actual values or circumstances. Society often defines progress in terms of career advancement, relationship milestones, or financial achievements, but meaningful progress might look different for you - it could be learning to manage Anxiety disorder, developing healthier Interpersonal relationship, or finding more joy in daily life. Major depressive disorder can also create the feeling that you're not moving forward by making it difficult to recognize positive changes or by sapping the motivation needed for goal pursuit. Sometimes you might actually be making progress but in areas you're not paying attention to, or you might be in a necessary period of rest or consolidation before the next phase of personal growth. It's also possible that you're stuck in patterns that aren't serving you and need to make some changes to create momentum. Consider broadening your definition of progress to include emotional growth, relationship improvements, health gains, or increased self-awareness. Keep a progress journal where you note small improvements and positive changes, even if they seem minor. Set smaller, more achievable goals that allow you to experience regular wins rather than only focusing on major life changes. Remember that everyone's timeline is different, and that periods of apparent stagnation are often followed by significant growth spurts. Focus on the direction you're moving rather than the speed, and celebrate small steps forward rather than only acknowledging major achievements.