Why I’m Proud Of The Woman I’ve Become

“I’m proud of the woman I am today because I went through one hell of a time becoming her.”

When I came across this quote, it spoke to me immediately. There’s always room for growth, and I’m still growing, but I went through hell and back to become the person I am today. And all that work has paid off. I genuinely like who I see in the mirror now.

I, too, am proud of the woman I am today.

I’m taking care of my mental health, something that took me years to start working on and even longer to tell others about. I’ve seen dozens of therapists and learned something important in each session. I’ve also tried different medications, finally finding the combinations that work well for me. Most importantly, I’m maintaining my mental health by learning new ways to care for myself and practicing habits that have helped me before. 

My interpersonal relationships have improved, too. 

I’ve had to cut some people out of my life or set firmer boundaries to protect my peace. I’m intentional about the people I let into my world, the ones who truly see me and accept me. Life is too short to spend too much time with people who drain you, such as toxic or abusive individuals who don’t have your best interests at heart. I’m realizing that now. Today and always, I prioritize myself–that means I don’t let just anyone into my life. After all, quality matters more than quantity.

Professionally, I’ve also managed a better work-life balance. I’ve learned to speak up and stand firm in my opinions, maintaining respect while also asserting my boundaries. I watch my stress levels more closely and ask for help when I need it. Instead of working long hours, I set my working window to my personal time, and I don’t answer emails or messages when I’m on vacation. As a recovering perfectionist, I’m proud to say that I’m creating a healthier relationship with work.

Now, I’m not going to pretend I have everything figured out. None of us does. Every moment, each day, we learn new things about ourselves and the world around us and make adjustments as necessary. But sometimes, we focus so much on where we need to improve that we forget to celebrate the progress we make, no matter how small it may feel.

I don’t look at life through rose-tinted glasses or stormy ones. 

Instead, I look at life for what it is. And I’ve chosen to also look with clarity and hope. No, I’m not perfect, but who is? Rather than fixating on what I’m doing wrong, why not focus on what I’m doing right? Why not focus on the improvements I’ve made in life, the seemingly large and minuscule ones, and look back on them with pride?

It’s important to acknowledge what we went through to get to where we are today. 

We all have our own stories, the untold demons that lurk around and try to push us back. But we made it despite the adversaries in our way. Personally, I think that’s something we should all be proud of, regardless of who you are.  

If my younger self could see me right now, I think she’d be proud. I know she struggled a lot with the issues I mentioned above, and they haven’t completely gone away, either. But I’m working on it. I make mistakes and learn as I go. I move forward, even when it feels like I’m going backward at times. And I think she would love that, hope that this is who she could be someday, would be someday.

I’m proud of the woman I am, and I hope you are, too.

Photo by Kayle Kaupanger on Unsplash