Michael here. I’ve been thinking a lot about something I’ve wanted to practice for years but never quite knew how to approach: reflection.
For a long time, I told myself I should reflect more on my life — my goals, my growth, my direction. What I didn’t realize is how simple it can be — and how dramatically it can shift your perspective.
The biggest benefit? Reflection shows you how far you’ve actually come.
Progress Isn't Always Obvious
If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know I’m a runner. Last year, I set a goal to run 600 miles. Midway through the year, I added another goal: run a half-marathon.
Big goals are exciting — but they can also feel overwhelming. When you’re in the middle of the process, progress can feel painfully slow. Every mile logged was encouraging… but my running app also reminded me how many miles I had left and how many weeks remained until race day.
Sometimes the reminders of how far we have to go drown out the evidence of how far we’ve already come.
Consistency Over Time
Over the past few years, I’ve learned something important: Real progress comes from sustained consistency. This has been true in my running — and in my life.
Emily and I are about to pay off all of our consumer debt. In April, we’ll make the final payment on her car. That moment feels huge — not because it happened overnight, but because we’ve stuck to a debt plan for three years.
- Three years of discipline.
- Three years of small, steady decisions.
- Three years of consistency.
That’s what gets you to the finish line.
Achieving goals is a marathon (pun intended), not a sprint.
Reflection Changes the Narrative
This is where reflection really matters.
I ran my half-marathon in 2 hours and 40 minutes. I wasn’t disappointed — but I also didn’t feel as accomplished as I expected. I’ll admit, celebrating wins doesn’t always come naturally to me.
Recently, I looked back at my training logs from last year. On my final long run before tapering, I ran 12.5 miles in 2 hours and 41 minutes. That means on race day, I ran farther — and faster.
That’s progress.
I wouldn’t have seen that without reflecting. At the moment, I only saw the clock. In reflection, I saw growth.
How Journaling Fuels Reflection
Another tool that has helped me reflect consistently is journaling.
I’ve been journaling for about three years. At first, it helped me prioritize daily tasks, organize long-term projects, and track goals. But even when I reached a goal, I often didn’t feel much accomplishment.
The game changer was going back and reading old entries.
- Seeing where I started
- Seeing what I struggled with
- Seeing what I overcame
That process is incredibly cathartic. It gives perspective. Helps builds confidence. It fuels optimism for the future.
Over the years, I’ve used different planners — the High Performance Planner, the Full Focus Planner, and now the 1% Diary. What matters most isn’t the brand; it’s the habit. Each one includes a weekly reflection section, and that’s the part I look forward to most.
Writing down:
- Where I succeeded
- Where I fell short
- What I can improve
Putting those thoughts on paper has been eye-opening.
Small daily habits, tracked consistently over time, dramatically increase your chances of achieving your goals.
Reflection and Faith
Reflection isn’t just practical — it’s spiritual.
In 2 Corinthians 13:5, we’re instructed to examine ourselves and test whether we are in the faith. As followers of Christ, that means asking hard questions:
- Am I following where Jesus is leading me?
- Am I drifting away from my faith?
- Are my actions aligning with what I believe?
Whether you feel strong in your faith or unsure where you stand, reflection is the first step. It allows us to recognize where we’re growing — and where we need to adjust. You can’t course-correct if you never check your direction.
A Final Thought About Reflection
It’s easy to focus on what’s left to accomplish. The miles remaining. The debt still owed. The goals not yet achieved.
But reflection reminds us of something powerful: You are not where you started.
Progress rarely feels dramatic in the moment. It’s usually quiet, steady, and almost invisible. But when you pause long enough to look back, you’ll see it.
So take time this week to reflect. Look at where you were a year ago. Notice the growth. Celebrate the wins — even the small ones.
Because the small, consistent steps you’re taking today are building the life you’ll be proud to look back on tomorrow.
To read more about our family journey, check out our blog post Checking In On Our Goals: January 2026.
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