Maybe because I'm young, I feel as though I am ever-evolving. I do yearly update videos. From year to year, the woman on the other side of the screen/camera the next year is so much different from the years prior. I know this will be no different in my 2020 year review. With this, it's easy for me to know that I've not arrived. But at times, I still struggle with this unreal pride in having “arrived” with respect to my peers.

This concept of arrival is what is often warned against by mental health professionals. It's this concept that there is a mental state, monetary value, and/or social status that implies that you are in your final/greatest form. This mindset goes against the Bible (Phil. 1:4-6).

To fight against this mindset, here are 3 motivators to encourage evolution and growth towards who the Lord would have us to become.

Don't take Him for granted. The Lord is our fortress and our rock. He is a present help for us and a protector of our souls. He's provider, educator, redeemer, etc. In our growth, don't take His relationship and contribution for granted. Grow daily to learn Him and strengthen your relationship with Him, ensuring that he's at the center of all you do.
Don't become prideful in your works. When you keep Christ first, this is a bit easier to do, but never think that you are higher than another man. The word says in Proverbs 3:7, "Do not be wise in your own eyes..." Don't believe that you are so much higher than others because your sin is not their sin or that you’re too good to go through certain situations.
Be open to seeing yourself as God sees you. I often go through cycles with God where I forget that I'm a work in progress. Especially during the good times, I tend to receive a blessing as a "reward" for my "sanctification". I'm actively working to fix these mindset slips; however, to do so, I ask the Lord to show me myself in His eyes. This requires accepting the good, bad, ugly, and even hidden parts of myself that the Lord sees. Even in dying to your self daily, you will sin. Seeing yourself the way God does, allows you to pinpoint and consistently work on correcting those sins.

Working these steps does not negate rejoicing in the good times. But remember when rejoicing in the advances, work still has to be done.