The reminder I needed (and you might too)

Read time: 2.5 minutes

At the end of every month in Clarity Lab, members share a monthly retro reflecting on what’s working, what isn’t, and where they might need to adjust to accomplish their goals. It’s a great accountability tool that keeps everyone on track and also allows others to learn from one another.

Here’s something a member shared this morning that really hit home for me:

If you’re not familiar, Clarity Lab is a community where professionals, creators, and clarity seekers come together to simplify life, create meaningful work, and prioritize what truly matters. It’s a space for both experimentation and shared wisdom.

And, honestly, I couldn’t agree more with this member’s reflection—who hasn’t had that moment of thinking, “Why am I being so hard on myself?” I had one of those recently that I shared last month. And truth be told, I could use this reminder more often than I’d like to admit.

“I have a bad habit of being hard on myself when I’m not further ahead or when things aren’t going as planned.” — Ronald’s April Retro

Here’s what happened: I was feeling like I was falling behind—like I was stuck in the middle of too many projects and not completing enough. That familiar weight of “You’re not doing enough. You’re failing” crept in.

We’ve all been there, right? The pressure to do more. Be more. Achieve more. Especially when juggling multiple tasks and trying to keep up with it all.

But here’s what I realized: I was completely ignoring the progress I had already made. The small steps that were adding up. The fact that I was doing better than I gave myself credit for.

That’s where the reminder came in.

Sometimes, we just need to give ourselves a little grace.

If you’re feeling behind or like you’re not hitting your goals, I get it. I’ve been there.

So let me pay forward a quick reminder: you don’t need to have everything figured out all at once. Progress isn’t a race.

Here are three simple takeaways for you today:

1. Give yourself grace. You’re doing better than you think. Acknowledge the progress you’ve made, even if it feels small. Every step forward counts.
2. Change the tone of your inner voice. Stop letting self-criticism call the shots. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend—with kindness. It makes a world of difference.
3. Set goals and systems that make progress possible. It’s not about perfection—it’s about momentum. Break things down into small, achievable steps. You don’t have to do it all at once.

This may sound simple, but a shift in your approach can bring serious clarity to your next steps.

When you let go of self-doubt and the pressure to be perfect, you free up mental energy, trust yourself more, and get clearer on how to move forward.

You know this. This isn’t news to you.

So, consider this your reminder.

Here’s my challenge to you this week: Take one small step forward—whether it’s a task, a mindset shift, or a decision—and celebrate that progress. No judgment, just recognition. And, as always, be kind to yourself.

Cheers,
-Ron