A useful concept that my therapist often uses:

All personal growth happens in two phases:

First-order change: you’re able to adapt your behaviour by intentionally and consciously thinking about doing that new behaviour instead of some old behaviour

Second-order change: the altered behaviour has become subconscious—your default response to a stimulus even without thinking about it

It’s useful and empowering to use this lens to look at your progress on whatever front it is you’re looking to improve at: if you put enough intentional reps in it will eventually become a habit that you do without thinking (second-order change / habitual / subconscious / second nature)