As a single mom who is self-employed, I have lots of goals each week: I set a weekly goal for work, I set a weekly goal for exercise, I set a weekly goal for jobs that need to be done around the house. On top of that, I try to balance all the fun things we need in our lives, like spending quality time with my kids, carving out time for hobbies, and investing in my relationship.
While I know most everyone is in the same boat and has things they need to do in order to keep their life running smoothly and to feel whole, I veer on the side of anxious and can get worked up very easily. In the past, if I didn’t meet my work goal, I’d end up in tears and feel worthless. If something was going on with one of my kids that was a struggle, I’d take all the blame and tell myself it was my divorce that was making them act like that. If my house wasn’t clean, the voice in my head would say things like, “You're lazy, you work from home, you should have that taken care of.”
I didn’t leave myself room for slowing down or just resting if I needed it
We need to let that pressure go
We have no idea what 2021 is going to bring. I’m not even going to try to be on fire all the time. Instead, I'm going to do the best I can, with the resources and opportunities that I have. I'm going to be thankful for the memories and the moments. I'm going to stay in the present moment and not look to the future.
I finally know that if things don’t go according to plan, or if I don’t match up to the expectations I’ve put on myself, I will adjust and make the best of it. And isn't that all any of us can truly wish for in the new year?
