Therapy Insights: What Healing Really Looks Like
Do you ever feel like you're stuck, waiting for a huge breakthrough, a dramatic moment when you realize you've grown? If so, you’re not alone.
Healing and personal growth can often feel like an elusive target.
We crave that big transformation, that one moment when everything just clicks, but the truth is, real growth happens quietly, sometimes without us even noticing.
Recently, I read a post that sparked a deeper reflection on this very question: When did you realize you were growing? Today, I want to share some responses from that post, along with my own thoughts, on what those small moments of transformation truly look like.
Hi, I’m Raquel Perez, a licensed professional counselor based in Colorado. In my practice, I help individuals navigate the challenges of life, relationships, and mental health by creating safety for insight. This blog is a space where I share stories, tools like meditations, and resources to help you on your healing journey. If you resonate with this, make sure to check back weekly for more helpful insights.
And at the end of this post, I have a free guide to share with you, so make sure to check that out. Let's dive in!
The Moment You Realized You Were Growing: Insights from a Reddit Post
Personal growth can be tricky. Sometimes, it feels like we’re just spinning our wheels, struggling to change.
But then one day, you look back and realize something has shifted.
Maybe it’s in how you respond to life’s challenges or how you react to something that used to bother you.
In the recent Reddit post, several individuals shared the moments when they realized they had grown. Here are a few of the responses that really resonated with me, and I encourage you to reflect on them too:
Response 1:
One person shared how, a year ago, they would have taken it personally when someone criticized their work. But now, they just see it as feedback. It wasn’t a huge reaction or transformation, but it was a moment where they realized they had changed. This small shift in perspective is a powerful sign of personal growth.
Response 2:
Another person talked about their journaling journey. They had been writing every week since 2022, and one day, they decided to look back at an entry from the previous year. What they found was striking: a tone of deep despair, filled with academic and personal stress, and the weight of mental health struggles that had been inhibiting their ability to function. Today, they’re living a much happier life, managing their academics while still feeling challenged, and their mental health no longer significantly impacts their daily life. Reflecting on this change made them feel immense gratitude for how far they’ve come.
Response 3:
A third person described how they realized they had grown when they stopped seeing their son as an extension of themselves and started seeing him as his own unique person. This shift was eye-opening for them, as they recognized their son as an individual separate from their own hopes and fears. This realization led to an exponential growth in their own life as they began to flourish in other areas as well.
Response 4:
Finally, someone shared how they experienced growth when their mind countered a negative thought about themselves. They didn’t remember the exact thought, but they recall that in the moment, their mind immediately replied, “That’s not true.” They got goosebumps because it was a clear sign that the inner work they had been doing was finally starting to pay off.
What Growth Feels Like: A Personal Story
Reading through these responses made me think about my own journey of growth and transformation. Growth doesn’t always come with fireworks or grand gestures. Often, it happens in small, quiet moments that can go unnoticed unless we take the time to reflect on them.
There was one incident, just a few months ago, that felt different. My dad and I were in the kitchen, and he became frustrated with the way I was cooking.
He shot me one of those disapproving stares that, for most of my life, would have made me freeze in place, scrambling for his approval.
He even went so far as to say, “See, you’re doing it wrong, that’s why this pan is burnt. You should do it this way!”
But this time, something shifted. Instead of freezing, I made eye contact with him and calmly said, “It’s okay, that burnt pan doesn’t really bother me.” And to my surprise, he responded differently. Our eyes locked, and he said, “You’re right. I don’t know why it bothers me so much, or why I care how you cook.”
At the time, it felt like a small thing, but when I later recounted the story to my girlfriend, it hit me—this was growth. A few years ago, I would have spiraled into shame and self-doubt. But this time, I was solid in my own sense of self.
The Power of Small Shifts
This is what healing and growth often look like: quiet, subtle shifts that might not seem significant at the moment but are incredibly profound when we take the time to reflect on them. If you don't pause to appreciate these small changes, they can go unnoticed or, worse, be forgotten. But every shift, no matter how small, is progress.
So, if you’ve had moments like these in your own life—where you handled something differently or realized you no longer respond the way you used to—acknowledge them.
Celebrate them!
Because these moments are proof of your growth, healing, and transformation.
Conclusion
Growth and healing don’t always come in the form of major life changes. Sometimes, they show up in the quietest moments, in subtle shifts that are easy to overlook. But these shifts, when acknowledged, are the building blocks of real transformation.
If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of where you are in your own healing journey, I encourage you to reflect on the small shifts you’ve experienced. They matter. They show you that change is happening, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
And remember, you don’t have to go through this process alone. If you’re looking for more ways to create safety for insight and personal growth, I invite you to download my free guide on how to create your safe space for insight. It’s a great starting point for anyone ready to embark on the journey of self-discovery and healing.
Thank you for reading! If you found this post helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit from it. And if you’re interested in learning more tools for healing, subscribe to my blog or YouTube channel for regular updates.
And don’t forget to download your free guide on creating a safe space for insight.
Until next time, take care of yourself, and remember: healing happens, even in the small moments.
