Earlier this month, I shared my journey of learning to juggle less by dropping everything except my top two priorities. What a relief that decision turned out to be! Focusing on fewer things eased both my anxieties and freed up precious time in ways I hadn’t expected.
As August ends, I’m looking back on what I accomplished, and here’s what I discovered: one priority flourished while another barely made it. And instead of beating myself up about it, I’m choosing curiosity over criticism, and it’s changing everything.
When Things Go Right (And why)
My first priority was to improve my content writing. This month, I did well. I partnered with a talented content strategist who helped me discover a fresh voice and transform my writing style. The progress felt incredible, like finally finding the right key to a lock I’d been struggling with for months.
What made this goal so successful? I knew I needed help, so I asked for it. I met Sophie1 a few months ago and knew she specialized in helping leaders elevate their presentation skills. We’d been talking for weeks, and at the start of August, I finally pulled the trigger. Together, we crafted a clear plan to take my writing to the next level.
Weekly accountability sessions became my most valuable tool. They didn’t just keep me on track but also helped me clarify exactly which aspects of my writing I wanted to tackle this month. Each session brought new clarity about the projects I wanted to launch this fall.
When Things Stall (And What That Teaches Us)
My second priority, minimalism, is a different story. If I’m being honest, I only did a little work here. In the past, this would have triggered an avalanche of self-criticism. You could have done better. Why did you waste time on other things? All those familiar refrains that plant the seeds of future self-doubt.
But this time, I’m choosing a different path. Instead of criticism, I’m choosing curiosity.
Why didn’t I make more progress on my minimalism project? Is there something about this goal that creates an invisible block? Maybe the goal itself needs reshaping, or perhaps the timing isn’t right? Even if I don’t find answers immediately, I know one thing for certain: I’m not planting seeds of confusion and doubt that will trip me up later.
The Power of Gentle Inquiry
There’s something profound about replacing “What’s wrong with me?” with “What can I learn from this?” It transforms setbacks from sources of shame into opportunities for understanding. It shifts us from being our own worst critic to becoming our most compassionate researcher.
This gentle inquiry doesn’t excuse a lack of effort, but it creates space for wisdom to appear. Sometimes we don’t reach our goals because we need help (like I did with writing). Sometimes we don’t reach them because they’re not the right goals at the right time. And sometimes, we’re simply human, navigating the beautiful messiness of growth and change.
Moving Forward with Wisdom
As I prepare for September, I’m carrying forward what worked: seeking help when I needed it, creating accountability structures, and breaking big goals into clear, actionable steps. For the goals that stalled, I’m bringing curiosity rather than judgment.
What if the path to our goals isn’t always linear? What if some months are for breakthrough progress while others are for gentle exploration? What if we could be more effective when we are kind to ourselves?
These are the questions I’m considering as I plan for the fall. And for once, the questions feel more like invitations than interrogations.
What about you? When you don’t meet a goal, do you reach for criticism or curiosity? I’d love to hear about your own experiments with gentler ways of growing.
If you’d like some support on this journey, I’d love to explore how coaching might help you move forward. Book a complimentary call – no pressure, just a conversation about what’s possible for you: https://L2BAppointments.as.me/IntroWebsite
1Sophie can be reached at: https://www.sophiewadsworth.com/
