Beating My Past Self: The Power of Personal Progress

One of the most profound experiences I’ve had began with something as simple as journaling started almost a year back. Initially, I thought of myself as a weak executor, constantly finding faults in my abilities and questioning my capacity to achieve my goals. But as I continued to journal, a powerful realization dawned on me: my greatest competitor wasn’t out there in the world; it was me.

This shift in perspective didn’t happen overnight. Journaling helped me peel back the layers of self-doubt and insecurity that had clouded my vision. As I documented my thoughts, successes, and setbacks, I began to see a pattern—each entry was a reflection of my growth. Slowly, I started to embrace the idea that the only competition that truly mattered was with myself. It was about being better than I was yesterday, last week, or even last year.

This internal competition reached its peak during my recent paada yaatre. For those unfamiliar, a paada yaatre is a spiritual walk, often undertaken, to a sacred destination. Each year, I embark on this journey from Bengaluru to Tirupati, a grueling walk that tests both my physical and mental endurance.

Last year, as I completed the exhausting and tiring journey, I made a commitment to myself: I would be better prepared—both physically and mentally—next time. I started my preparation immediately after returning. My plan was simple yet demanding. I began by walking 5 to 6 kms daily, gradually increasing my distance to 10 kms on weekends. Kept track of this on my mobile. Consistency was key, so I wore the same pair of chappals every day to simulate the conditions I would face during the actual pilgrimage.

Physical preparation was just one part of the equation. To ready my mind for the challenge, I started practicing mindful meditation. This practice allowed me to consciously prepare myself, cultivating the mental resilience needed to face the journey ahead. I knew that by training my mind, I could better handle the physical demands of the pilgrimage.

When the time for this year’s paada yaatre arrived, I was more prepared than ever before. Instead of comparing myself to others or worrying about how fast I could complete the journey, I focused on competing with my past self. My goal was simple: to be stronger, more resilient, and more focused than I was during last year’s journey.

The results were remarkable. Not only did I complete the journey with greater ease, but I also experienced a deeper sense of fulfillment. The mental and physical endurance I developed was a testament to the power of self-competition. I had proven to myself that I could surpass the old me and, in doing so, set a new standard for my future self.

This experience reinforced a critical lesson:

True growth comes from within. While external achievements are important, the most meaningful progress is made when we challenge ourselves to be better than we were before. Journaling has become my tool for this personal transformation, helping me track my progress, acknowledge my strengths, and address my weaknesses.

As I reflect on this journey, I am proud of the person I’ve become. Not because I am perfect, but because I am better than I was yesterday. And that, I believe, is the essence of self-mastery.

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