Here's a way to expand the conversation, if anyone wants to think about improvement in this alternative way.
Assuming you are seeking improvement (I'm aware that not everyone is), do you ever realize that you have stopped "improving" --- and are now just skiing for fun at a stable skill level??
If you stop improving and progressing towards that motivating goal you were originally seeking, are you OK with that? How do you deal with lack of progress? (I assume this happens to all of us.)
This is me. I used to be all about skiing faster and more challenging terrain, and skiing was all about the ego boost of becoming better. Did a number of steeps camps and lessons, and was always skiing with others who challenged me. That made it pretty thrilling, but it was a roller coaster emotionally and resulted in a lot of injuries.
It took a lot of mental "training" to let go of my ego that used to be screaming in my head that I needed to keep up, or beat someone down the hill or go bigger or faster than yesterday. Every day. I'm good with just cruising at my own comfortable pace now and at peace in my head with that.
But, I also don't really have much passion for skiing anymore either, to be honest. I skied this past Saturday and it was nice. (The snow was actually lovely and it was a powder storm day). But with my only real goal being "Don't get hurt", it's just... "nice".
I've toyed with taking lessons again but not sure what I'd want to work on. The terrain I don't ski anymore is because it feels too high consequence, or causes knee pain (side stepping hikes, bad conditions...) If I felt there was a technique resolution to either I'd work on it. I kind of feel like lessons would be something to do, BUT, I have so many other expensive hobbies I'd rather put that money towards, I can't see doing it.
I'll probably just continue skiing "socially" to spend the time with friends and call it good. The thing I really enjoy on skis these days is bird watching, and wer have one event a month at Alta where they have a guided tour and we ski to various spots and feeders along the way and stop to watch birds. Haha I hesitate to call it skiing though, as it takes the group like 3 hours to do 2 runs. But I do love that...