This summer marks five years since I walked away from my job at the middle school to pursue Feel Empowered Every Day full-time.

Five years.

Five years since I taught the class that confirmed this work was more than just an interest, it was something I felt called to do.

Five years since I figured out my next chapter in life after being a stay at home mom for 25 years.

Five years since I found the courage to record my first video, hit "post," and let people into my perspective. (Something I had spent the past vowing I would never do).

Five years since I realized that the concepts I was sharing weren't just helping others, they were continuing to transform my own life as well.

When I look back, I'm incredibly proud. Not because everything went according to plan. Not because my business has grown as quickly as I once hoped. But because I stayed true to the work.

If I'm honest, there are moments when I think, "After five years, I thought I'd be further along."

I think many of us have those thoughts when we pour ourselves into something that matters. We compare where we are to where we imagined we'd be and forget to notice just how far we've actually come. (Maximizer strength traits)

What encourages me is this:

My message hasn't changed.

The heart behind my work hasn't changed.

My desire to help people understand themselves and one another hasn't changed.

What has changed, or rather LIFE’d (an idea shared in my book) is me.

Over these past five years, I've continued learning that growth isn't only about becoming better at what you do. It's about becoming clearer about why you do it and staying true to how you do it.

When I first began, I focused heavily on the tools I used.

Today, I focus much more on the understanding they create.

The principles haven't changed. My perspective has deepened.

The conversations have become richer.

The way I communicate this work continues to evolve because I continue to evolve.

And I hope that never stops.

That's one of the beautiful things about dedicating yourself to meaningful work. The work shapes you just as much as you shape it.

So if you're in the middle of building something, a business, a career, a relationship, a dream, or simply a better version of yourself and it feels like you're moving slower than you hoped, don't mistake steady growth for lack of progress.

Sometimes the greatest success isn't found in arriving quickly.

It's found in becoming the kind of person who can sustain what you're building when it finally arrives.

Five years later, I'm still learning.

Still refining.

Still growing.

Still believing that understanding ourselves is one of the greatest gifts we can give the people around us.

And that makes me just as excited about the next five years as I was about the first.