How It Started vs How It's Going Meme Generator

How It Started vs How It's Going meme maker. Two panels, two moments in time. Show the before and after of anything: relationships, projects, New Year's resolutions, your houseplant.

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How It Started vs How It's Going meme template - Two panels stare at each other across a timeline. The left panel holds the optimism, the clean slate, the confident plan. The

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What is the How It Started vs How It's Going Meme?

Side-by-side comparison format showing the start of something alongside its current state. Originally a viral Twitter trend in 2020, now used for any before-and-after contrast, from wholesome relationship milestones to comedic self-owns.

Also Known As

How It Started How Its Going
Before And After Meme
How It Started Meme
Expectations vs Reality
Then vs Now Meme

About the How It Started vs How It's Going Meme

Two panels stare at each other across a timeline. The left panel holds the optimism, the clean slate, the confident plan. The right panel holds the truth. The format doesn't need captions to be funny because every viewer instinctively reads left-to-right as a story of decline, growth, or spectacular plot twist.

The "How It Started vs How It's Going" format went viral on Twitter in October 2020 when users began sharing two-image posts showing the beginning and current state of relationships, careers, and personal journeys. Some were wholesome (first date vs wedding), others were self-deprecating (Day 1 of the gym vs Day 2 of the gym). The format spread because it works for literally any before-and-after comparison. For a similar side-by-side with more attitude, see Buff Doge vs Cheems (strong past vs weak present). For escalating confidence, see Clown Applying Makeup.

How to Make a How It Started vs How It's Going Meme

Two text fields, side by side: "How It Started" on the left and "How It's Going" on the right
Left panel describes the optimistic beginning, the fresh start, or the original plan. Right panel shows where things actually ended up
The comedy lives in the distance between expectation and outcome. Wholesome versions work too, but the format shines when the "going" panel is a spectacular downgrade from the "started" panel
Black bold text on a clean layout. Both panels have equal space, so keep captions balanced in length so one side doesn't overwhelm the other
Comparison complete. Download your PNG to post the receipts, or Share it with anyone who remembers how things started

When to Use the How It Started vs How It's Going Meme

New Year, Same You

•Started: "This year I'm saving 50% of my paycheck" / Going: Checking if I can return an impulse purchase for store credit
•Started: January gym selfie in new workout clothes / Going: February gym membership auto-renewing while I sit on the couch
•Started: Dry January / Going: Wet January 4th
•Started: "I'm going to read 52 books this year" / Going: Read 3 pages and fell asleep, book is now a coaster
•Started: A detailed color-coded planner / Going: A pile of sticky notes that say "DO THIS" with no context

Relationships & Dating

•Started: Matching Hinge profiles with witty banter / Going: Married, arguing about thermostat settings
•Started: "I'll text back right away so they know I'm interested" / Going: Responding 3 days later with "haha sorry just saw this"
•Started: Candlelit dinner reservations / Going: "What do you want for dinner?" "I don't know, what do you want?"
•Started: Long love letters / Going: "K"
•Started: Dressing up for date night / Going: Sweatpants and a hoodie, but they're the nice sweatpants

Work & Career Arc

•Started: First day of the job, pressed shirt, big smile / Going: Logging in from bed with the camera off
•Started: "I'm passionate about this company's mission" / Going: "I'm passionate about direct deposit"
•Started: Organized desk with a plant and a motivational quote / Going: 17 sticky notes, 4 coffee cups, the plant is dead
•Started: Actually reading emails / Going: 2,847 unread and counting

Pet Ownership Timeline

•Started: "The dog sleeps in his own bed" / Going: Dog in the center of the bed, owners on the edges
•Started: Cute tiny kitten in a basket / Going: 15-pound cat who owns the house and knows it
•Started: "We're only getting one fish" / Going: A full aquarium setup that cost more than the rent
•Started: Puppy training class / Going: The puppy trained you

Home & Living Situations

•Started: Pinterest-worthy kitchen renovation mood board / Going: A half-painted wall and takeout containers
•Started: "This apartment is going to be so organized" / Going: Junk drawer has expanded to junk room
•Started: Indoor herb garden / Going: Dirt in a pot with nothing growing
•Started: "I love my roommate, this is going to be great" / Going: Passive-aggressive sticky notes about the dishes
•Started: Moving-day excitement / Going: Box labeled "misc" from 2 years ago, still unopened

Hobbies & Side Projects

•Started: "I'm going to learn guitar" / Going: Guitar in the corner collecting dust, still on the first chord
•Started: Day 1 of a 30-day drawing challenge / Going: Day 4. That was 8 months ago
•Started: Starting a blog with a 12-month content calendar / Going: One post from January and a domain renewal notice
•Started: "I'm going to run a marathon" / Going: Walked to the fridge and back and called it cardio

Example How It Started vs How It's Going Meme

How It Started vs How It's Going meme about promising to cook at home but ending up with three delivery apps open

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Last updated: March 2026

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