05/20/2026
For those who have been constantly going in life, trying to survive an abusive environment, seeking validation from outside themselves, or just trying to be in a system that is oppressive: you are doing your best. You are allowed to acknowledge any tiny bit of progress you make.
In therapy, we often see a conditional and transactional linkage when it comes to celebrating anything related to self. Some of these beliefs can look like: I can only acknowledge my accomplishments if I deserve it, if it's good enough, or if it's meeting the final goal.
What if we were to say instead: what if what matters is if something positive happened since last time? What if it's observing reality changing due to your investment, characteristics, and efforts?
If this is you, trying to survive, we encourage you to take some time to name something that's progress. You could have taken your meds today, brushed your teeth, called a friend when you were tired, or sat down instead of kept pushing your body through something.
Remember, it's completely okay to name progress.
