You know those moments when you just feel like you don’t have it together? A failed expectation turns into another and before you know it you find yourself in a spiral of self-doubt and self-criticism?

Reflecting back on the last 12 months I see professional wins, areas of growth, and opportunities for improvement. I think we all can. Going into 2020, many of us wrote goals for our institution, departments, and for ourselves. Then March 2020 hit us like a freight train, and we were forced to pivot in monumental ways that the majority of us had never been trained for. Each individual, regardless of profession and career, was challenged.

Pandemic challenges aside, we all need to have reality checks with ourselves from time to time. A moment to say,

“Hey, girl. You’ve got this”

It’s easy to get caught up in a glass half empty state. Like the times when you feel you’re losing more than winning? Losing a little control and the ability to succeed? When in reality, what you’ve actually lost is the ability to see the situation from a different lens.

I’ve fallen in that trap several times this last year. I found a note in my phone from January 2020 reminding me that I am capable. I had lost focus of the professional wins and the supporting team surrounding me. I had allowed myself to get lost in the self-imposed losses and the notion that I had to prove myself at every moment, when in reality, I really only had myself to prove.

It’s natural to fall in a trap of uncertainly and question. And it’s imperative that we all give ourselves a moment of pause for reflection and a reality check.

Beautiful girl, you don’t need to prove anything or anyone. Do your job and do it to the best of your ability. And the things that don’t go as you wanted or planned? Well then, fail forward. You’ve got this.

J. Pirtle, January 2020

And you, dear reader? You’ve also got this.

Lean into the people you trust. Let go of the idea that you need to have control and a hand in everything. It’s not possible. There are too many moving pieces. Handle people, projects, and situations with grace, a smile and an inquisitive mind.

Actions speak louder than words. That trying to “prove your worth” thing isn’t becoming of you. The relationships built, the opportunities provided, and the product of the work speak loudest.

Fail Forward.

Find Your Place.

Find Your People.

Bring Them With.

I hope 2020 leaves you with a calmness in your heart and a renewed vision of how you want to live this beautiful life of ours. Even in the lows there is hope, joy and peace.

And there is always cats in Christmas trees.

Wishing you the Merriest Christmas and Joyous New Year.