How does 'personal growth' happen for you? Is it slow, in hindsight? Is it immediate regret? An epiphany?

Most of the time I feel it gradually...over the span of weeks, months, years. The most profound kind though, is when I'm in the dumps and a random thought scrolls across my mind, and suddenly! I know exactly what to do next with my life! And next thing I know, I'm smiling from ear to ear because the xfiles are so good and man, this toast is TASTY