I'd argue progress is when we feel appropriately to the situation. Feelings are things you can take to a therapist to help you get them sorted out, or something to experience at a film, or when your child is magnificent and beautiful in an unexpected way. Feeling are for music and for art and for friendships and for the bedroom.

Feelings rarely solve problems, though the thoughts which stem from them often can.

Progress is when we understand and integrate our feelings appropriately to the situation. Plenty of people could make me feel things (and many people do - I am an emotional birdo) but that'll never happen on Medium, because they aren't relevant to anything I bring into my articles.

Or to quote my therapist friend, your personality, your philosophy and your disposition are like the climate - Your feelings are like the weather, don't panic about a single rainy day.... concentrate on not burning the planet to death. :o)