🌿 Progress Over Perfection—In Work, in Grief, in Healing
At the end of the last post, we talked about the idea of progress over perfection. And as I sit here now, writing this, I realize it’s time to share something more personal—because this lesson has been living inside of me for the past several months.
One of the reasons I started this blog—Authentic Evolution—after completing my Women’s Authentic Leadership course, was to create a space that reflected all the lessons I write about. A space for self-leadership. For reflection. For alignment.
But also—for honesty. For when it’s hard.
Because here’s the truth:
Life is hard.
It’s going to throw curveballs—grief, sickness, trauma, stress—and just when you think you’ve figured it out, the rules change. Not just you, but the world around you is evolving, adapting, sometimes unraveling. And in those moments, it’s easy to lose your footing.
💬 Writing to Remember—and Reconnect
I write these posts not just to inspire you, but to remind myself.
To stay grounded in the things that matter:
- Purpose
- Intention
- Self-awareness
- Accountability
- Growth
- Rest
Because when things get really heavy, sometimes all you can do is put one foot in front of the other.
💔 A Season of Loss, and the Grace to Pause
In November, I lost one of my best friends—an adult friendship that meant the world to me. Not long after, I got really sick. The kind of sick that takes all your energy just to do the bare minimum and make it through a workday.
During that time, I felt like the worst version of myself. I wasn’t the best friend. I wasn’t present in the ways I usually try to be. I felt like I had nothing to give—except what was required to survive each day.
And yet… I came through it.
And when I started to feel better, I made up for lost time. I reconnected. I took deeper breaths. I gave myself grace. I remembered that our choices and actions have consequences—but the best we can do is make the right one in the moment with what we have.
🕊 The Power of a Pause
Sometimes what you need isn’t another productivity hack.
You don’t need a list or a plan.
You need to sit still.
To listen to the birds.
To look at the water.
To breathe.
To cry.
To just be.
Those tiny sabbath moments—those recharges of your mind, body, and spirit—are more powerful than we give them credit for.
💡 The Personal Is the Professional
Every lesson we talk about here—resilience, intention, awareness, support networks—isn’t just for your career.
They are survival skills for your personal life.
Your network?
The ones who check in when you disappear.
The ones who still see you when you’re quiet.
The ones who hold your goals with care, even when you can’t lift them yourself.
Those are the people to keep close.
🧩 We’re Not Always at 100%—And That’s Okay
Life will test you.
You won’t always have the energy to be your brightest self.
But you can keep showing up with whatever you have.
That’s progress.
That’s evolution.
That’s real.
💬 Final Thought: A Life Full of Moments, Shared with the Right People
We only get one life.
And more than success or perfection, I want mine to be full of great moments—and shared with great people.
That means:
- Giving myself grace when I falter
- Resting without guilt
- Choosing vulnerability, even when it hurts
- Reconnecting with my purpose
- Living intentionally, even in small ways
So if you’re in a hard season right now, hear this:
You’re still evolving. Still growing. Still worthy.
One step at a time.
One breath at a time.
One foot in front of the other.
Authentic Evolution Journey 