As we get further into the year, I know that many people are starting to examine their New Year’s resolutions. No matter what you want to do, you’re probably checking on your goal progress, and you may find that you haven’t perfectly kept up with it. That’s okay! You don’t have to be perfect, and that’s what today’s lesson is all about.

What Does Progress Over Perfection Mean?

When I say “progress over perfection,” I’m asking you to give yourself grace. Life is busy! We may not always meet our goals on time, but that doesn’t mean we should give up. Instead, we should celebrate our accomplishments and use our current progress to guide us forward.

As a personal example, I promised myself that I would lose fifty pounds this year. When my April 1st weigh-in rolled around, I was disappointed that I had not met my goal, but I didn’t give up! Instead, I recognized that I had lost weight and that my journey is only just beginning.

The Three Motivations

It’s not always easy to give ourselves room to be imperfect. We always want to meet our goals, and it’s discouraging when we don’t. To help you maintain your momentum, I have three helpful tips for you. These tips can apply to any goal. From writing a book to losing weight, you can utilize these helpful strategies to maintain your momentum in life and push yourself forward.

1. Watch Your Words

The best way to guarantee that you will fail is to constantly tell yourself that you will fail. Our words matter, and we need to recognize that. Whenever you check on your goal progress, be sure to speak gently. Don’t regard a failure to meet a deadline as an absolute end to your progress.

Instead of saying “I didn’t write a new chapter of my novel this month, and I will never get it done,” tell yourself that you haven’t gotten to it yet.

Remember to apply this to others, too! When your friends are talking about their goals, be encouraging. If they are upset about failing to meet their goals, remind them that they, too, have made progress!

2. Celebrate Your Wins

While we’re on the topic of progress, let’s remember the small wins! I may not have met my weight goal in April, but I can happily say that I have increased my stamina. Where I was once tired after thirty minutes on the elliptical, I can now easily go for an hour or more! That’s progress!

Remind yourself of this. If you need to, consider keeping a list of achievements. Keep track of your progress, and write down where you were when you started your journey. For health-conscious folks, this may mean taking note of your starting weight. If you want to get a promotion, you might keep track of your current progress at work.

No matter what your goal is, you want to have a way to keep tabs on the little things, because these might be more important than the big picture! Your progress is still progress, and that’s something worth celebrating.

3. Have an Accountability Partner

If you’re going to celebrate these wins, then you’ll need someone to share in your joy. I call these awesome folks accountability partners. They help you stay on top of your goal, and you help them stay on top of theirs.

Now, the biggest thing to know about accountability partners is that you’ll want someone similar to you. If you’re trying to lose weight as a single mother, then teaming up with a solo lady in her mid-twenties will likely bring you down. Moreover, your schedule won’t fit! Be sure to team up with people you know are on the same page as you are.

When you meet with your accountability partner, practice these three motivations. Speak gently about your achievements, celebrate your small wins, and remind one another of your goals.

I have one accountability partner for each of my goals. This means that each person has their own motivations and aligns with me differently. By doing this, I give myself a chance to find the perfect match for each goal.

The Important of Grace

No matter where you are on your journey, the best thing you can do is give yourself room to grow. You may not always be perfect, but that’s the beauty of being human! No matter how close or how far you may be from your goal, you have most certainly made progress, and that’s why you should keep going! Learn more about living life as a successful woman without sacrificing your mental health when you visit my blog!