I wrote the following reflection back in 2012. Much has changed since then. (Do you see what I did there??!!) My path in education has not led me where I thought - and that is ok. My journey is not complete. Things change. Often for the better. This is still good advice - from my old self to my new self. Perhaps you will find it to be for you as well.
“If you're determined to change, you need to know this. Change does not happen in a straight line. Change is a non-linear process. To change you are literally shifting things around inside. And thankfully, engrained habits don't give way easily.
Here's why I say thankfully. If habits weren't durable, you could barely function. You depend on habits being there and lasting longer than a few days. Otherwise, you'd be thinking through how to pull a tee-shirt on, how to tie your shoes, and wondering how you ever rode a bike. Habits are like shortcut keys on a keyboard. They make things automatic unless you pay close attention. That is their strength.
It is only when you're changing that you may curse these qualities or wish habits weren't so durable. But you can at least learn efficient ways to change habits. One of the most powerful ways is to not quit when it seems you're meeting resistance, getting nowhere, suffering setbacks and feeling cranky about the whole effort.
Take heart. Successful change feels wobbly, even and especially, when it's going well.”