Blisters + Breakthroughs

Loving on myself, even when my sneakers don’t

Lately, I've been wrestling with a wave of self-criticism that’s hit harder than usual. Looking back over the past year, I can’t ignore the list of things I haven’t achieved yet. I’m still renting, still single, and although I love my job, my career isn’t where I’d like it to be, and my salary doesn’t reflect my hard work. To top it off, I’ve gained back 30 pounds, and that’s become a new target for my self-criticism.

It’s so easy to get stuck in what isn’t working, especially when juggling work, personal life, and the high expectations I set for myself. Some days, it feels like no matter how hard I push, it’s never enough. I focus on my flaws instead of celebrating the wins and fixate on what’s missing instead of appreciating my progress.

But here’s the thing: I realized that focusing on my shortcomings wasn’t helping me grow. So, I decided to try something different—celebrating the small victories. I started taking daily walks and drinking more water. Simple, right? Well, those walks came with a surprise: blisters from my new sneakers! The blisters turned my hopeful routine into a short-lived one, but I plan to get back at it once they’ve healed. On the bright side, I’ve been more consistent with drinking water, though I wish someone had warned me about how often it would disrupt my sleep—oh, the joys of frequent trips to the bathroom! I also took some time to update my LinkedIn profile and resume, diving into a new job search that’s looking pretty good.

At first, these efforts seemed minor, but I’m starting to see them as meaningful steps toward my goals. I’m sharing this because, even with these positive changes, self-criticism is still a battle. Balancing my own expectations with external pressures can be tough, and some days, it feels overwhelming. Those are the days when I slip back into that critical mindset.

What I’m learning is that it’s okay to have moments of self-doubt. The key is not letting them knock me off course. Instead, I’m working on reframing my thoughts, recognizing my achievements, and practicing self-care. It’s about being kind to myself—just as I would be to a friend—even if it doesn’t always come easily.

Those blisters from walking turned out to be a surprising lesson. They forced me to slow down, rethink my approach, and regroup before trying again. This unexpected pause helped me see that setbacks are just part of the journey, and moments of self-criticism are chances to practice self-compassion. Balancing self-criticism with self-care isn’t simple, but each step I take toward kindness and understanding, blisters and all, feels like a win.

So, if you’re following my story and find yourself battling self-criticism while handling life’s demands, remember: it’s all part of the process. From my own journey, I’ve learned to be patient with myself, celebrate every bit of progress, and not let self-doubt overshadow my journey. Self-compassion is a daily practice, and every small step toward it is worth celebrating.

That’s my story—blisters, setbacks, and all! Here’s to more breakthroughs and hopefully fewer blisters!