What If You're Further Along Than You Think?

Learning to see your growth instead of everything you haven't accomplished.

Have you ever reached the end of a long, exhausting day, looked around at everything still undone, and wondered what you actually accomplished?

The laundry is still waiting. There's another bill to pay. Someone needs something. Your to-do list somehow seems longer than it did this morning.

And even though you've been going nonstop, there's that little voice whispering, "I should have done more."

I wonder how many of us have spent years listening to that voice.

How many of us have become so accustomed to measuring ourselves against what hasn't happened yet that we've forgotten to appreciate what already has?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

The Invisible Measuring Stick

I've been listening to a book called The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.

One of the ideas that has really challenged me is how we measure our lives.

We can measure ourselves against an ideal we haven't reached, or we can look backward and recognize the progress we've made.

That sounds simple, doesn't it?

But for those of us who have spent much of our lives being responsible for everyone and everything, it can feel almost impossible.

Because we've learned to focus on what's next.

The next responsibility.

The next problem to solve.

The next bill.

The next person who needs us.

There isn't always much time to celebrate the fact that we made it through yesterday.

We're too busy preparing for tomorrow.

When Being Strong Becomes Your Identity

Some women learned to be strong long before they ever had the opportunity to simply be carefree.

Maybe you were the responsible child.

The single mom who couldn't afford to fall apart.

The wife who kept everything running.

The caregiver who always put herself last.

Or the woman who learned that if something needed to be done, she had better figure out how to do it herself.

Over time, being capable becomes more than something we do.

It becomes who we believe we have to be.

And without realizing it, we begin measuring our worth by how much we accomplish, how many problems we solve, and how little help we need.

But here's something I've been asking myself:

When did surviving difficult seasons stop counting as an accomplishment?

When did getting back up after heartbreak become something we simply expected of ourselves?

When did continuing to love, hope, learn, and grow stop being worthy of celebration?

What If We Changed the Question?

Instead of asking, "Why am I not where I thought I would be by now?"

What if we asked, "Who have I become along the way?"

Maybe you haven't reached the financial freedom you imagined.

But you've learned to be resourceful.

Maybe your life doesn't look the way you planned.

But you've discovered strength you didn't know you possessed.

Maybe there are dreams you've had to set aside.

But you've kept a little spark of hope alive, even when life tried to extinguish it.

And maybe, just maybe, you're so busy looking at the distance between where you are and where you want to be that you're missing the beautiful evidence of your own growth.

Not every victory comes with applause.

Sometimes victory is setting a boundary.

Sometimes it's asking for help.

Sometimes it's choosing not to give up.

And sometimes it's simply allowing yourself to rest without feeling guilty.

You Are Allowed to Want More

Here's another thought I've been wrestling with.

Can we appreciate where we are and still want something different?

I believe we can.

Being grateful doesn't mean we stop dreaming.

Recognizing our progress doesn't mean pretending everything is wonderful.

And finding peace doesn't mean we no longer have responsibilities, disappointments, or unanswered prayers.

It means we can acknowledge the good that already exists without requiring our lives to be perfect first.

You can want a different tomorrow and still recognize the value of who you are today.

Those two things can live together.

Your Piece of Peace This Week

I want to invite you to do something a little different.

Find five quiet minutes. Maybe with your morning coffee, sitting outside, or before you go to bed.

Instead of making another list of everything you need to accomplish, ask yourself three questions:

1. What is something difficult I've made it through?

2. What is one way I've grown in the past year?

3. What is something about the woman I am today that deserves appreciation?

Don't rush your answers.

And please don't dismiss them because someone else has accomplished something bigger.

This isn't a competition.

It's your life.

Your journey.

Your growth.

Your story.

And it matters.

A Gentle Reminder

I've spent a lot of time thinking about the woman I still want to become.

Maybe you have, too.

But I'm beginning to understand that we can't fully appreciate where we're going if we never acknowledge where we've been.

There are things I would change about my story if I could.

There are dreams that haven't happened yet.

There are parts of me that are still growing and healing.

But there is also a woman here today who has survived, learned, loved, given, and kept going.

And she deserves to be seen.

So do you.

You don't have to wait until you've accomplished everything, fixed everything, or become everything you hoped to be before you appreciate the woman you are.

She has already come a long way.

And perhaps recognizing that is where a new kind of peace begins.

Until next time, beautiful friend,

Take a moment to lead your life with intention, live with grace, and exhale.

Because your piece of peace matters.

Let's keep the conversation going.

What's one thing you've made it through or one way you've grown that you haven't given yourself enough credit for?

I'd love to hear about it.

And if you've been so busy taking care of life that you've forgotten how to make room for yourself, I invite you to discover your personal De-Stress Type.

Discover Your De-Stress Type

You might be surprised how a few intentional moments can help you find your piece of peace.