There’s a beautiful verse in the Srimad Bhagavatam which makes an analogy between advancement in bhakti and eating. This analogy can help measure spiritual progress. It says that when one eats, one feels pleasure, nourishment (strength), and (gradually) lack of hunger (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.42). Likewise, if the spiritual advancement in chanting is ideal, one feels pleasure, spiritual strength, and lack of desire for sense gratification.