I’ve always struggled with this idea that if I’m not doing everything all at once and perfectly, then I’m somehow falling behind. Like there’s this invisible finish line I should be sprinting toward, and everyone else already knows where it is.

It creeps in quietly, too. You’ll be scrolling on a Sunday night and suddenly someone’s bought a house, launched a business, gotten engaged, ran a marathon and made banana bread for fun. Meanwhile, you’re lying in bed wondering how it’s already Monday again.

And don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy for people that get to do these amazing things. Truly. I love seeing people win. But sometimes it feels like we’re all just performing productivity, trying to keep up with a pace we don’t even remember choosing. It’s like we’re racing against a clock we didn’t set, measuring our progress against milestones that might not even matter to us.

So here’s what I’m trying to remind myself: just because someone looks like they’re further ahead, doesn’t mean they’re doing better. And just because I’m not moving at full speed doesn’t mean I’m stuck.

There’s a difference between being still and being stagnant. Resting doesn’t mean you’ve given up. Taking things slow doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. And taking a step back to breathe is often the thing that gives you the clarity to move forward again – in a direction that actually makes sense for you.

I don’t want to be constantly in motion just for the sake of it. I want my progress to be intentional. Sustainable. Rooted in something real – not just aesthetics or the need to prove myself.

I don’t want to confuse burnout with ambition.

I don’t want to wear exhaustion like a badge of honour.

And I definitely don’t want my self-worth to be measured by how “productive” I look from the outside.

Because honestly? Some of the most meaningful growth I’ve done hasn’t looked like much at all. It’s looked like resting when I didn’t feel like I deserved to. Saying no when I would’ve normally said yes. Having a hard conversation. Letting go of a version of me that I thought I had to be. Picking myself up after a week where everything felt off. Choosing to keep going, quietly and slowly – even when nobody is clapping for it.

That kind of growth doesn’t always come with big announcements or a highlight reel. But it counts. It matters.

So if you’re feeling behind today, or like you’re not where you “should” be – take a breath. You’re not behind. You’re just on a path that’s your own.

Your pace is allowed to look different.

Your timeline is allowed to be messy.

Your success isn’t on anyone else’s schedule but yours.

There is no prize for rushing to the finish line if you don’t even know what you’re running toward. There’s no gold medal for being the busiest, or the most exhausted, or the first to figure it all out. The real win is building a life that actually feels good to live – and that takes time.

This week, I’m not rushing to catch up to some version of me that exists only in my head. I’m meeting myself where I’m at. And that’s enough.

Let’s start the week with less pressure, more compassion.

Less proving, more presence.

And remember, further ahead doesn’t always mean further along.

— Lilly x