It’s true- your year didn’t have to be perfect. We’ll tell you why.
As the year winds down, it’s easy to get caught up in the highlight reels and accomplishment posts that flood our feeds.
But here’s the thing: sometimes, just surviving the year is the biggest win of all. Take it from us—we feel like the experts on surviving.
In this episode, we’re sharing why it’s okay to not have a list of grand achievements and how to embrace the simple (but powerful) act of getting through life’s challenges. Tune in as we talk about redefining success, reflecting on small victories, and letting go of the pressure to keep up.
Let’s Talk About Why Your Year Didn’t Have to Be Perfect
This time of year is difficult for many. While we are pressured to feel joy and happiness everywhere, we are also inundated with lists of other people’s accomplishments.
Did you know that 60% of people feel that they are unable to cope due to the pressure to be successful?
We want to tell you that it is important to realize that your year didn’t have to be perfect. No one’s year was perfect, no matter how shiny and glossy people make it seem on Instagram.
1. Normalize Survival
Let’s normalize survival as a valid and worthy accomplishment. Not every year will be about big wins or major milestones—and that’s okay.
Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is simply keep going, especially when life feels heavy. Survival means you faced challenges, endured tough days, and still showed up in whatever way you could.
It’s time to stop measuring ourselves by society’s relentless productivity standards and start recognizing the quiet strength it takes to simply exist and persevere.
Surviving isn’t just ‘good enough’—it’s remarkable.
2. Reframe Success
Success doesn’t always look like climbing to the top of a mountain; sometimes, it’s about the small steps we take to move forward, even on the toughest days.
Reframing success means shifting our focus from external achievements to internal growth. Trust us, we know a little something about reframing success and living outside of the norm.
When we changed everything about our lifestyle, we heard from most people that it wasn’t what they envisioned for our happiness or success. Here’s the thing, success for us is being content, finally living the life that we envisioned for ourselves, and that’s what matters.
It’s about recognizing that showing up for yourself, prioritizing your mental health, or simply getting through the day is a win.
Success isn’t just about the big moments; it’s about how you handle the quiet ones, bounce back from setbacks, and keep going even when the path isn’t clear.
3. Celebrate Small Wins
Sometimes, the little victories are the ones that matter most.
We have a jar where each week we put a little piece of paper in it saying the best thing that happened to us that week. It may not seem big, but at the end of the year, when we read all of the pieces of paper, we realized we had a lot of small wins!
Whether it’s making time for self-care, completing a challenging project, or simply learning how to say no, these small wins add up. Acknowledge and celebrate these moments instead of overlooking them in pursuit of perfection.
4. Practice Self-Compassion
Perfection is often rooted in harsh self-criticism. By practicing self-compassion, you can allow yourself to embrace mistakes, setbacks, and imperfections with kindness.
Please be kind to yourself, especially when things don’t go as planned, which is a form of success in itself.
5. Let Go of Comparison
Comparison often creates the illusion that everyone else is having a perfect year. Social media highlights don’t tell the full story, and comparing your journey to someone else’s can undermine your own growth. Focus on your personal progress instead of measuring it against others.
6. Reflect on Lessons Learned
Every year teaches us something, even if it’s not the outcome we expected. Take a moment to reflect on the lessons you’ve learned throughout the year. These lessons—whether from successes or struggles—are valuable and shape who you are becoming.
7. Shift Focus to Gratitude
Perfection often focuses on what’s missing, but gratitude brings attention to what is already present. Shift your mindset to acknowledge the positives in your life, no matter how small. Here is a list of 100 Things to Be Grateful for When You Don’t Think There is Anything.
Focusing on gratitude helps reframe your perspective on the year as a whole.
8. Let Go of “Should” and Embrace “Is”
“I should have done this” or “I should have been further along by now” are common thoughts that cause unnecessary pressure. Let go of these “shoulds” and embrace where you are right now.
The year is not defined by where you thought you’d be but by where you are and how you’ve grown.
Give Yourself Some Grace
We get it—this year has been one of the toughest we’ve ever faced.
It’s been full of unexpected challenges, moments of doubt, and times when simply making it through felt like an accomplishment in itself.
So, if you’re looking back on the year and feeling like you didn’t hit all the ‘perfect’ milestones, know that you’re not alone. Surviving, learning, and growing in the face of adversity is more than enough.
It’s a reminder that life doesn’t always go according to plan, and that’s okay. What matters is how we show up for ourselves, and how we move forward with grace.
So here’s to embracing the mess, honoring where we are, and knowing that even if our year wasn’t perfect, we’ve made it this far—and that in itself is something worth celebrating.
You may also enjoy Setting Intentions Rather Than Resolutions for the New Year!
