Life doesn’t always hand us a steady rhythm. The last eight months of my life have been a blur of grief – I lost my dad and two young brothers, three blows that hit harder than I could’ve ever prepared for —a gut punch that left me questioning fairness, wrestling with anxiety, and feeling the weight of depression!!!
Anxiety and depression became uninvited guests, lingering in the corners of my mind. There were days I didn’t want to get out of bed, let alone show up for work or pretend I had it all together.
Energy? Gone.
Mental state? Far from perfect.
But life doesn’t pause, does it? The world keeps spinning, responsibilities pile up, and somehow, life demands we keep going.
That’s when I stumbled—accidentally, messily—into the power of small wins. I’m not here to preach some polished self-help mantra. This isn’t about “hustle harder” or chasing perfection. It’s about what I’ve learned when perfection felt impossible: progress, even the tiniest step, can be a lifeline.
The Weight of Perfection
Before this year, I was all about the big goals. The flawless execution. The picture-perfect outcomes. I’d beat myself up if a project wasn’t 100% right or if I didn’t hit some lofty target. Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve been there too stuck in the trap of thinking “good enough” isn’t enough.
But grief stripped that away. When you’re reeling from loss, perfection isn’t even on the table. I couldn’t aim for a grand slam; I could barely swing the bat. And yet, life demanded I keep going. So, I started small—really small.
One day, it was just replying to an email I’d been avoiding. Another day, it was getting through a meeting without breaking down. These weren’t victories I’d have celebrated before. But in the fog of anxiety and depression, they felt monumental.
Why Small Wins Matter
Here’s the thing: small wins aren’t just baby steps—they’re proof you’re still in the game. Science backs this up. Researchers like Teresa Amabile have shown that making consistent, meaningful progress—even in tiny doses—boosts motivation, creativity, and resilience. It’s not about the size of the win; it’s about the signal it sends to your brain: I can do this. I’m still here.
For me, those little victories became anchors. Finishing a task didn’t erase the pain, but it gave me something to hold onto. A reason to try again tomorrow. And over time, those small wins started stacking up—quietly, imperfectly—until I could see a path forward.
Progress Beats Perfection Every Time
Perfection is a myth anyway, right? It’s this shiny carrot we chase, thinking it’ll make us happy, successful, or “enough.” But it’s exhausting—and when life throws curveballs, it’s downright paralyzing. Progress, though? Progress is real. It’s messy, it’s human, and it’s within reach—even on the hardest days.
I’ll be honest: I’m still figuring this out. Some days, my small win is just getting through without spiraling. Other days, it’s a work project I’m proud of. But I’ve stopped waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect me to show up. I’m learning to celebrate the fact that I’m moving at all.
Your Turn: Start Small, Win Big
If you’re reading this and feeling stuck—whether it’s grief, burnout, or just the weight of expectations—give yourself permission to start small. Forget the grand overhaul. What’s one tiny thing you can do today? Reply to that message? Take a walk? Jot down an idea. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be progress.
Because here’s what I’ve learned: those small wins don’t just keep you going—they build something bigger. They’re the foundation for coming back to life, one step at a time.
So, here’s my challenge to you: celebrate a small win today. Share it in the comments if you want—I’d love to cheer you on. Let’s stop chasing perfection and start building momentum instead. Because even on the darkest days, progress is power.
Reflections 