ESCAPING THE PRESSURE OF THE NEW MONTH

ESCAPING THE PRESSURE OF THE NEW MONTH

The arrival of a new month often hits us with a double-edged sword, especially when that month is the final one of the year. On one side, there's the genuine optimism of a fresh start and on the other, a deep, quiet pressure starts building. If your first thought wasn't excitement but a sinking feeling, "I'm running out of time... I should be further along… My mates are doing this or that…", you’ve likely fallen into the most common emotional pitfall; Comparison.

In a world obsessed with loud announcements, the new job, the engagement ring, the successful launch, the blooming business, it’s easy to scroll through your feed and conclude that everyone is winning except you, which isn’t true. You feel behind only because you are tracking someone else’s life, not your own.

Social media presents the polished final chapter, never the years of fear, failure, and silent effort that built the highlight reel.

The Truth? Your true growth is found in the quiet victories, recognizing that your journey is valid even if it lacks a celebratory post because success is never reserved solely for the milestones we can shout about. This month, stop fixating on external achievements and acknowledge the invisible work you've done.

You've mastered skills you once avoided; you’ve survived crises you never saw coming, you’ve shown up consistently even when your motivation vanished and you’ve grown in ways your current self doesn't even recognize. These personal victories are not just part of your progress; they are the foundation.

Measuring Your Inner Planner

We tend to ignore the most important personal forms of growth which is the true progress built from small and consistent changes in character and mindset simply because they aren't quantifiable or visible to others. Instead of only counting big external wins, pause and ask yourself about your inner planner;

·         Did you establish healthier boundaries?

·         Did you practice self-discipline?

·         Did you gain clarity about your future?

·         Are you actively healing from a past struggle?

These kinds of internal transformations are the quiet work that truly secures long-term success.

The Role of Time and Seasonality in Your Life

We often treat our lives like a production line, expecting consistent and direct output but nature and human growth don’t work that way. Your journey has seasons!

• The Planting Season

  

  PLANTING SEASON

  The work here is often silent, it feels slow and unproductive; you’re putting in ten, fifteen hours but there’s no immediate applause or reward. This is where your patience is tested, many people quit in this season because they mistake unseen progress for no progress. You are planting seeds, the seeds of a new skill or better discipline, like a seed, this process must happen underground first, you won't get external validation because the foundation you are building isn't meant to be flashy; it's meant to be tough.

• The Dormancy Season

  

  DORMANCY SEASON

  In this season, you may feel stuck or stagnant but try to recognize that this period isn't wasted time, it is a necessary and vital season for deep healing, allowing your mind and body to quietly unite and adopt the lessons you’ve learnt.

• The Harvesting Season

  

  HARVESTING SEASON

  This is when the blooming business, the successful launch, the promotion, the new relationship and the visible wins suddenly appear, proving that the harvest you are celebrating now is the result of the quiet planting you did months or years ago.

If you are in the planting or dormancy season, comparing yourself to someone else’s harvest is the definition of self-sabotage. Give your current season the respect it deserves.

New Month Mandate

This month, change the conversation you have with yourself, let go of judgement and embrace curiosity. The goal isn't just to do things; it's to do them with purpose. Instead of setting one overwhelming goal, define three tiny goals for this month that are entirely within your control. For example, a personal habit you will start or stop, one difficult boundary you will set or maintain and one thing you will do purely for learning and not for profit.

Try to walk into the month with confidence, give yourself permission to breathe. Let go of the weight of comparison, make room for your own growth. You are not behind, you are becoming. You are not late, you are learning. You are not failing; you are forming your foundation!

Given that the start of the final month of the year often brings mixed emotions, how are you approaching it? What are your strategies or plans for closing out the year?