8 behaviors you probably don’t realize are making you regress as a person

Growth isn’t always about big leaps forward—it’s just as much about avoiding the little steps backward.

Sometimes, without even realizing it, we hold ourselves back with behaviors that chip away at our progress.

These habits can feel harmless or even normal in the moment, but over time, they quietly derail your personal growth.

The tricky part? Many of these behaviors are so ingrained that you might not even notice you’re doing them.

But the good news is, once you’re aware, you can start making changes that set you back on the right track.

Let’s take a closer look at eight common behaviors that could be holding you back more than you realize.

1) You’re constantly comparing yourself to others

Isn’t it funny how we can be our own worst enemy?

You see, there’s this thing we do where we compare ourselves to others.

You know what I’m talking about, right? We look at others’ successes, their lifestyles, their relationships, and then we start to feel a little inadequate.

But here’s the thing: This constant comparison isn’t healthy or productive.

It’s like trying to run a race while constantly looking over your shoulder. You’re bound to trip up or veer off course.

As author and motivational speaker Mike Robbins puts it, “All of this is an insatiable ego game that ultimately sets us up to lose. Comparison to others leads to jealousy, anxiety, judgment, criticism, separation, loneliness, etc.”

The focus should be on your own path, your own growth. Don’t let someone else’s highlight reel define your self-worth or progress.

Comparing yourself to others is a slippery slope that can easily make you regress as a person without you even realizing it.

So, next time you catch yourself in the comparison trap, remember: Your journey is unique.

Let’s keep the eyes on the prize, and that’s being the best version of you.

2) You’re dwelling on past mistakes

This one hits close to home for me.

A few years back, I made a mistake. Well, it was more than a mistake.

It was a series of decisions that led me down a path I wasn’t proud of.

For a long time, I wrestled with guilt and self-doubt.

I replayed the scenario in my head over and over, thinking about what I could have done differently.

But all that did was make me feel worse about myself – like I was stuck in some sort of time warp, unable to move forward.

The truth is, we all mess up sometimes. It’s part of being human.

But continually dwelling on past mistakes does nothing but drag us down. It stifles our growth and prevents us from moving forward.

It’s crucial to acknowledge our mistakes, learn from them, and then let them go.

Because when we hang onto our past errors, we’re not giving ourselves the chance to grow and evolve.

We’re simply remaining stuck in a loop of regret and self-blame.

3) You’re not embracing change

There’s a famous quote by Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher, that goes like this: “The only thing that is constant is change”.

Now that’s some timeless wisdom right there.

Change is a normal part of life. It’s how we grow, learn and evolve.

But often, we resist it. We cling to our comfort zones like lifelines, fearing the unknown.

I’ve been there. I’ve clung to the familiar even when it wasn’t serving me, simply because it was comfortable and safe. But in doing so, I was holding myself back.

By refusing to embrace change, we deny ourselves the opportunity to grow and become better versions of ourselves.

We become stagnant, stuck in our ways, and without realizing it, we begin to regress.

Embracing change can be scary, but it’s often where the magic happens.

So let’s welcome it with open arms and see where it takes us.

4) You’re neglecting your physical health

Did you know that regular exercise can actually improve your mental health? It’s true.

Exercise releases chemicals like endorphins and serotonin in your brain, which make you feel good.

So think about this — when was the last time you got your heart pumping?

If you’re anything like me, you might have let your physical health slide when life gets busy.

You justify it by saying you’ll get back on track tomorrow, but tomorrow turns into next week, then next month…

And before you know it, you’re feeling sluggish, lethargic and just not yourself.

Neglecting your physical health doesn’t just impact your body, it impacts your mind too.

It can lead to decreased motivation, lowered self-esteem and even feelings of depression.

Don’t underestimate the power of a good workout. It’s about more than just staying fit or losing weight – it’s about taking care of your overall well-being.

Because when we take care of our bodies, we’re also taking care of our minds.

5) You’re neglecting personal relationships

We’re social creatures, us humans. We thrive on connection, communication, and companionship.

But how often do we find ourselves too caught up in our own lives to nurture these relationships?

I’ve been guilty of this myself — losing touch with friends because I was too caught up in my own world.

Unfortunately, a lack of social interaction can lead us down a path of loneliness and isolation.

It might not seem like a big deal initially, but over time, it can affect our mental health and overall well-being.

In fact, studies show that maintaining social connections is the best path to happiness.

That’s because personal relationships enrich our lives in so many ways – they provide support, love, joy and help us navigate through the tough times.

Neglecting them can cause us to regress as we lose out on these essential connections.

6) You’re not setting boundaries

It’s a balancing act, really.

On one hand, you want to be there for the people you care about, to help them in times of need.

But on the other hand, there’s only so much you can give before you start to feel drained.

I’ve been there, giving more than I could afford — in terms of time, energy, and even emotional well-being.

And let me tell you, it’s exhausting.

Without setting proper boundaries, we risk burning ourselves out.

And when we’re burnt out, we’re not only less effective in helping others, but we also start neglecting our own needs.

Setting boundaries isn’t about being selfish or uncaring.

On the contrary, it’s about self-preservation and ensuring that we’re able to give our best to others without compromising our own well-being.

Remember, it’s okay to say no sometimes. It’s okay to prioritize your needs.

Because when we take care of ourselves first, we’re in a much better position to take care of others.

7) You’re not challenging yourself

This one’s a bit tricky. It’s easy to fall into a routine, to stick with what we know and avoid anything that might push us out of our comfort zone.

I know I’ve had my fair share of moments when I’ve chosen the easy path over the challenging one.

But here’s what I’ve learned: Growth doesn’t come from staying in your comfort zone.

It comes from challenging yourself, from trying new things, from stepping into the unknown.

If we’re not challenging ourselves, we’re not growing.

And if we’re not growing, we might as well be regressing.

It’s as simple as that.

So let’s dare to take on those challenges, to embrace the unknown, to strive for growth.

It might be uncomfortable at times, but that discomfort is a sign that we’re pushing our boundaries and becoming better versions of ourselves.

8) You’re not practicing self-compassion

This last point might just be the most crucial one of all.

In our constant pursuit of improvement, of becoming better versions of ourselves, we often forget to be kind to ourselves.

We criticize ourselves for every failure, every mistake, without giving ourselves the grace we would extend to others.

Practicing self-compassion is not about making excuses for our shortcomings or failures.

It’s about treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding that we would offer a loved one.

By being kinder to ourselves, by practicing self-compassion, we can actually boost our resilience and motivation to improve.

So let’s remember to be our own best friend, to treat ourselves with kindness and respect.

Because at the end of the day, we’re all works in progress.