One of the strange things about getting better at something is that it can become harder to recognise how far you have come.
You spend months working towards a goal. When you finally reach it, there is a brief moment of excitement before your attention shifts to the next thing. Suddenly, what once felt like a big achievement becomes your new starting point.
In sport, this happens all the time. A player wants to make the starting team, then wants more minutes. They want to make a representative side, then a national team. Each achievement opens the door to another goal, and before long, they can feel like they are always chasing something just out of reach.
There is nothing wrong with wanting more. Having goals gives you direction and a reason to keep working. The problem comes when you become so focused on where you want to be that you stop appreciating where you are.
Sometimes, it is worth looking back at what you once found difficult. The skills you can now perform without thinking, the level you used to dream of reaching, or the challenges that no longer seem as intimidating.
You might be further ahead than you realise. You have just become used to being there.
Ambition helps you move forward, but recognising your progress helps you understand how far you have already come.
