As I’ve been checking in with clients after the holiday break, I’ve noticed a common theme: a focus on what they haven’t achieved yet.
Several clients shared that they didn’t complete the tasks they’d carefully planned—often for very understandable reasons: family needs took over, motivation dipped, or others simply didn’t respond as hoped.
On paper, those “unfinished” items looked like a lack of progress. Cue the familiar inner critic: “I should be further along by now.”
For others, the situation looked almost the opposite. They’d made meaningful progress—gaining new clients, reaching out to contacts, enrolling in a class, or exploring new career ideas—but they barely noticed their own momentum.
Instead of celebrating what had happened, they zeroed in on what was still undone: the job not yet landed, the unclear next career, the business not yet at its ideal size, the complicated return to work after caregiving.
Different paths, same underlying story: “It’s not enough yet.”
This new three-part series will focus on gently shifting that story—learning how to hold a hopeful vision for the future while appreciating the good that’s already here, even when you’re not yet where you want to be.
Goals Take Time (and That’s Not Failure)
Big, meaningful transitions—like a career change, growing a business, or returning to work after caregiving—rarely unfold in one big leap. They come in stages, with pauses, experiments, and the occasional detour.
Our brains are wired to fixate on the “gap” (what’s missing) rather than the “gain” (how far we’ve come), which can easily feed frustration and self-criticism.
When you notice that happening, try a gentle reframe: “Not there yet” doesn’t mean “not moving” or “not worthy.” It simply means you’re in the middle of the meaningful work that growth requires.
Hold a Kind, Clear Vision
One way to stop fixating on the “gap” is to hold a kind and clear vision of where you want to go.
Make sure your destination is well-defined. Big goals can feel out of reach when we don’t know what “success” looks or feels like. Without clarity, it’s hard to recognize progress—much less celebrate it.
Keep your vision flexible. Let it guide your choices, not box you in. For example:
“I want to find meaningful paid work that allows me to use my strengths.”
is much gentler and more motivating than
“I need to decide on a new career path this week.”
Defining a clear vision can be challenging for some people. If you’d like help defining your destination, try this quick exercise.
Let your vision serve as a compass—not a measuring stick to beat yourself up with—and allow it to evolve as you learn more about yourself.
This Week’s Challenge
I’d love to hear from you!
- What is one small sign that you are already moving toward your vision?
Leave me a comment and join the conversation!
Need Support Shifting Your Story?
If you’d like help balancing future goals with present-moment appreciation, email me at dianna@collierclan.net for a free consultation.
Dianna Collier 