A woman left the gym early feeling defeated, then reflected on how the same workout would have been impossible a year ago. She argues that showing up matters more than perfection, and that reflection helps you see progress your inner critic won't let you see.
This morning I left the gym 5 minutes early. I was just feeling a little bit off, low energy, not quite myself, and for a while after I felt annoyed with myself. You know that voice, the one that says, "Why didn't you push yourself harder?" But then I paused and I realized last year I wouldn't have been able to do the workout I did this morning. It's so easy to judge ourselves by what we didn't finish and forget how far we've actually come. You don't need to be perfect to be making progress, just remember that. Showing up is the win.
