How do I know if I'm actually progressing in my spiritual practice or just going through motions?

The irony is that the desire to measure progress can become an obstacle. Your mind wants proof, wants to track improvement like gains at the gym. But the deepest changes are often invisible at first. That said, you're not imagining things. Real practice does transform you, and there are ways to notice. Look not for extraordinary experiences—those come and go—but for subtle shifts in how you meet life. Do you react less automatically to frustration? Can you sit with uncertainty longer? Are you less defended in relationships? Does your mind settle more readily? These aren't flashy, but they're real. Also notice where you're still stuck. If the same patterns keep appearing—the same angers, the same fears, the same ways you abandon yourself—that's not failure. That's information. It tells you where your practice hasn't penetrated yet. The work is still waiting there. I'd say: don't rely on feeling alone. Your feelings shift constantly. Instead, ask people who know you well—your teacher, close friends—if they notice changes. External perspective matters. And keep a simple record: not of experiences, but of intention. Did you practice? That's progress enough. The transformation unfolds over years, not weeks. Trust the work itself.