As the year begins, it’s natural to reflect on the past—to audit the successes and the shortcomings of the previous year. If you’re anything like me, you may have found that some of your goals for 2024 went unmet. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and while I’m tempted to steer clear of clichés like “Don’t worry, you’ll get them next year” or indulge in toxic positivity, there’s a perspective I’d like to share: we all have a number.
This number represents the journey—the time it takes to achieve our dreams. It could be the number of years before you land your dream job, the number of uploads before you become monetized on YouTube, or the time it takes to truly master a craft. Whatever it is, we all have a number.
If you didn’t achieve a goal you set last year, it doesn’t mean you failed. It simply means you haven’t hit your number yet. I encourage you to stay the course (and yes, I cringed writing that too). But seriously, don’t give up. Imagine your number is five years and three months, and you quit at five years, two months, and three weeks. You’d never get to share the greatness that was just around the corner.
That said, I’m fully aware that not every day of the journey will be easy. Some days, the weight of it all might make you want to stop entirely. On those days, I hope you give yourself grace. Show up however you can, even if it’s with less energy or enthusiasm than usual. Your 100% effort won’t look the same every day, and that’s okay. Whatever your 100% looks like in the moment is enough.
As for me, I’m still working towards finding my own numbers. And as I do, I’m rooting for you, too. Let’s revisit this idea of “the number” this time next year and see how far we’ve come.
In the meantime, don’t forget to be kind to yourself.
With love,
Hasanat.
