Somewhere along the way, many of us started believing that we only deserve pride when everything is flawless.
When goals are fully achieved.
When mistakes no longer exist.
When life looks “right” from the outside.
But that belief is exhausting—and unfair.
You don’t need to be perfect to be proud of yourself.
You just need to be honest about your effort.
Be proud that you keep trying.
Be proud that you didn’t quit on days when quitting felt easier.
Be proud that you learned from your mistakes instead of letting them define you.
Be proud that you’re still here, still growing, still choosing to move forward.
Perfection is not the goal.
Progress is.
Life is messy.
Growth is uncomfortable.
Healing is not linear.
And that’s okay.
Some days you’ll feel confident and motivated.
Other days you’ll feel unsure and tired.
Both days count.
You don’t have to have everything figured out to be worthy of respect—especially from yourself.
Celebrate the small wins.
Acknowledge the quiet efforts.
Give yourself credit for how far you’ve come, not just how far you still want to go.
remember this:
the fact that you’re still trying, still learning, and still believing in yourself—even a little—is already something to be proud of.
You’re doing better than you think.
