Last year, my pastor had a message. It reminded us that we just need to do our best. We shouldn’t strive for perfectionism. Over the past year or so, I have focused on Progress Over Perfection. I have learned not to be critical of ourselves when things don’t go perfectly in our lives. It can be easier to point out our flaws in life. We need to focus more on progress than perfection. We should strive for our best during life’s journey.

Years ago, I was deep in battling challenges from neglecting my mental health. I often criticized myself when I started caring for myself, only to fall out of line again. It seemed impossible to pick myself up as I needed to. Getting back on track felt impossible, no matter how hard it was for me. I often made excuses for myself. I focused on why I couldn’t instead of just doing what was needed to make things right.

Years ago, I was continually reminded to give myself grace when we fall short of what we intended to do. It was hard to accept things as they were. I hesitated to start making changes. I knew we would not be perfect in reaching the destination we needed to be. Instead, I made destructive unsound decisions that took me in the opposite direction. In the end, these decisions solved the battles I was fighting. They made me realize how important it was to care for my mental health. I understood it needed to be done in the right way.

Last year’s theme from our county behavioral health office for mental health month Progress over Perfection proved something important. I did not get where I was overnight. It would take the same grace and understanding to just do my best. This was necessary to get back in the direction I needed to be in. I had to constantly remind myself of this lesson. It was taught and shared by those who greatly valued my qualities.

It is important to me that I continue to strive for more progress. That goal in itself is what I want 2026 to be about. I want to achieve more progress than before. In past years, my actions were not in my best interest, and it hurt me the most. Even though I did not realize it, others saw it. They had concerns and feared being on the receiving end of the damage I was doing to myself.

I know that I can have the life that I once had and deserve to have. I just have to continue to do my best. I will do what I know I need to do to make sure I am taking care of myself. Maybe I will add some activities to my life to improve things. What I do know is what happened in the past no longer serves me. It was a game that I played with my mind. I intend to no longer go there. But what I want to do is work more towards showing more progress. I will do the best that I can do each and every day.