It’s the beginning of January which means it’s the beginning of a new year. Year-end lists and New Year’s resolutions abound. As corny as it sometimes feels, the end of a year and the beginning of a new one really is an excellent time to take a step back and reflect on yourself.
In this modern capitalist society, we are not taught to trust ourselves. Someone else is the expert on our happiness and success and how to get there, and there is always something missing that we need to purchase to become truly fulfilled.
But instead of thinking about how we can keep changing ourselves, let’s look at what we’ve already accomplished and how we have already grown. First, ask yourself: what is you? We sometimes forget that we are not defined by just our career, or only our relationships, or just our health. We can become so focused on one aspect of ourselves that we fall out of step in other areas. But each piece contributes to the whole. YOU are your current life, your goals (your future life), your relationship with yourself, and your relationships with others.
If you have cultivated a healthy home life with yourself, a partner, a dog, a child, a friend, or a family member, this is something to be proud of.
If you are in a business or creative partnership with people or a person with whom you trust and are inspired by, this is something to be proud of.
If you meet new people who excite you and make you want to get better at what you do, this is something to feel good about.
If you actively engage with your creative process, you should be proud of the love and respect you are showing yourself.
If you actively support someone else’s creative journey, however deep into it they may be, you should be proud of the love and respect you are showing someone else.
If you actively engage in your professional skillset and continually work toward greater mastery and new perspectives, this is something to be proud of.
If you mentor those that can learn from you, in any capacity, this is something to be proud of.
If you have open and honest conversations about money, business practices, gender gaps, race, and the ways you can participate in change for good, this is something to be proud of.
If you have ever wanted to quit, but you didn’t, this is something to be proud of.
We have a lot of work ahead of us. We have songs to write, bands to form, sounds to record, albums to make, stages to mix, setups to design, decisions to make about futures we hope to have. We have girls wanting to learn the ins and outs of an industry we know is uncomfortable for women to work in, and fortunately, they can learn in an environment that is vastly more comfortable for them than it was for us. There are so many more steps forward we will make. But today, please take a moment to acknowledge all of the steps you have already taken to make this industry, this world, your life, and the lives of those around you, a kinder, more loving, and inclusive place. Let’s keep it up!