Looking Back…

This past year was not my best year, and it also was not my worst. That distinction matters.

For those of us who are self employed, it can be tempting to measure a year only by growth, revenue, momentum, or visible wins. When things feel slower, heavier, or less certain, it is easy for scarcity to creep in and start telling a story that something is wrong or that we are falling behind.

There is an almost automatic pull to evaluate, measure, and resolve.

• What did I accomplish?
• What didn’t I do?
• What do I need to change next year?

What kept me grounded this year was staying focused on the here and now. On what was meaningful. On what was steady. On the gratitude that exists even in seasons that challenge us. Abundance is not just about outcomes. It is a mindset rooted in presence, awareness, and perspective.

This year, I chose to invest my energy in meaningful work. I wrote a book. I launched a podcast. Neither led directly to revenue, but both brought me tremendous joy. This reminded me why I do this work in the first place. I stretched myself creatively, deepened my sense of purpose, and reaffirmed that not everything of value can or should be measured immediately.

From that place, reflection becomes possible without turning into self-criticism. As a recovering over achiever and perfectionist, I must be intentional with this practice.

I have never found much wisdom in resolutions. I found myself setting impossible expectations for myself, and then feeling like a failure when it didn’t happen. They often ask us to leap forward without fully understanding where we have been or who we have become along the way.

Instead, this time of year invites something quieter. More honest. More sustainable. I refer setting an intention or choosing a word to focus on for the year. This year, my word was abundance.

As I step into what comes next, I am reminding myself that staying present is a practice, and gratitude is my anchor. When we stay rooted in the present, we stay out of fear, it allows us to make clearer decisions and lead with more humanity. We also resist the urge to measure our worth by outcomes alone.

Especially for those of us building our own businesses, staying present and grateful keeps us connected to why we began in the first place. Not everything needs to be rushed, optimized, or proven right now. Sometimes, the most meaningful work is simply noticing what is already here and allowing that to be enough.

Happy Holidays! Cheers to being enough and having enough! It’s a choice.