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Around this time of year, something subtle starts to happen.
We begin to review.
Not gently - but critically.
We replay decisions. We count wins. We focus on what didn’t happen. We start grading the year as if it were an exam we either passed or failed.
For creators, this tendency is even stronger.
Because our work is public.
Because results are visible.
Because progress is often measured in numbers.
But here’s something worth considering before you judge this year too harshly:
Not every year is meant to produce obvious wins.
Some years are about endurance, not outcomes
There are years where growth looks clear and measurable.
And there are years where growth looks like staying.
Staying consistent when motivation dips.
Staying creative when confidence wavers.
Staying curious when results are slow.
Those years rarely feel successful while you’re living them - but they often become the foundation for everything that comes next.
If this year felt heavy, slow, or uncertain, it doesn’t mean it was unproductive. It may simply have been formative.
Creators often judge the wrong things
It’s easy to ask:
Did I grow enough?
Did my content perform?
Did I reach the goals I set?
Harder - but more honest - questions sound like:
Did I learn how to show up more consistently?
Did I build resilience when things didn’t work?
Did I continue even when it would’ve been easier to stop?
Those things don’t show up in analytics, but they matter deeply in the long run.
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… ok, let’s get back to the topic 👇
Growth isn’t linear and it’s not always visible
As creators, we’re surrounded by highlight reels.
People share their best moments, not their quiet seasons.
So when your own year feels less impressive by comparison, it’s tempting to label it as a failure.
But growth often happens in the background - in skills sharpening, in habits forming, in identity solidifying. You don’t always notice it while it’s happening.
You notice it later, when things start to move again.
Before you label this year, pause
Before you call this year “bad,” “wasted,” or “disappointing,” try reframing it.
What did this year prepare you for?
What did it teach you to tolerate, to release, or to rethink?
What did it strengthen, even quietly?
A year doesn’t need to look impressive to be important.
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… the article continues👇
Just remember this today…
You don’t need to judge this year to move on from it.
You can acknowledge it.
Learn from it.
And let it be what it was - a chapter, not a verdict.
There’s still time ahead.
There’s still room to grow.
And nothing about this year defines what comes next.
Be a little kinder in how you remember it.
Just let it be what it was, take what it gave you, and step into what comes next with an open mind and a little more understanding.
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See you on the next one
Karata♡