Breathe. Measure. Continue.

One on being exceptional, the other on some business stuff and sharing more on that.

I'll share both another time.

Instead, I'll just share a quick thought from today.....

I was reminded today that standards and expectations, primarily the ones we put on ourselves, can either be an incredible tool & leverage, or the detriment to our progress and even existing.

I do this a lot - I set these insane expectations of myself and then daily face the overwhelm, fear, anxiety, loneliness that occurs from missed expectations and wandering so far out that no one else is around any more.

To pull back, especially for high performers or visionaries, kills us.

To push through, exhausts us to no end.

It's a no win game.

Or so it feels.

I'm simply reminded to measure backward (old email I wrote).

To remember how far I've come in the last 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 8 years.

Not to let it get to my head.

Not to let it slow me down.

But to remind myself that progress HAS been made.

And sure, there's always room to improve and grow.

But sometimes, the pressure I put on myself to be perfect, to be what I need to be for my vision in 9 years, or all the people I care for today... is just unrealistic and needs to be checked against progress and reality.

We can still care and love (deeply) while letting go of our lofty expectations of perfection.

It's just wildly hard.

We HAVE to have accountability and support in order to be truly successful.

And even then, without surrendering to a loving God, it still won't be truly freeing.

See, I know that somewhere (more than likely, in many ways), you've made some incredible progress, friend!

I also know that you, like me, want more.

Most people use this to sell you something.

I'm just hear to encourage you.

While yes, you ARE meant to be more than you are right now, you also are so incredible and so capable!!

The fact that you keep going - yeah ok, not perfectly, that's ok - tells me all I need to know.

Real talk: life gets HARD.

Just don't quit.

And you're not, even if you feel like it some days.

Don't quit.