Before we begin, I invite you to read that title out loud as a directive to yourself: “Give Yourself Credit — You’re Doing More Than You Think.” Say it again if you need to, because it’s true … you deserve credit for all that you are doing, even if your brain is arguing otherwise.
If you’re anything like most work-from-home entrepreneurs I know (myself included), your brain has a running tally of everything that’s still undone. That one client project that needs tweaking. The email funnel you meant to finish. The social posts that didn’t quite happen.
Your brain keeps waving those things in your face like a to-do list written in neon lights.
But all those things still in progress, the to-do’s that aren’t crossed off yet … that’s not failure. That’s survival mode doing its thing.
After all, your brain is wired to notice what’s unfinished — it’s how humans stayed alive back when “what’s left undone” might’ve been a fire that needed tending or a tiger lurking in the tall grass.
We’ve just traded the tiger for Trello.
So no, you’re not broken or lazy if you have a list of things still to do.
You’re human.
And the work now — especially as we wrap up another year — is to see yourself clearly. Not through the lens of what’s missing, but through the grace of what’s growing.
Your Growth Is Happening Even When It Doesn’t Look “Productive”
Think about a garden in late fall. The blooms have faded, the soil looks tired, and from the outside, it might seem like nothing’s happening. But underneath that quiet surface, roots are deepening. The groundwork for next spring’s growth is happening invisibly.
That’s you, friend.
Even when your output feels small or scattered, you’ve been showing up. You’ve learned, adapted, adjusted your sails more times than you can count. Maybe you’ve taken a brave step, like setting a boundary or raising your rates. Maybe you’ve had to pivot (again) when life threw you a curveball.
Those moments don’t always make it into your highlight reel — but they matter more than you realize.
The “messy middle” seasons are where your resilience strengthens. That’s the part no one posts about on social media, but it’s the foundation for everything that follows.
If this idea of progress over perfection feels familiar, it’s because we’ve talked about it before when I encouraged you to Celebrate Weekly Wins to Build Confidence and Keep You Going. In that article, I reminded you that when a toddler is learning how to walk, we instinctively see every imperfect action as proof of forward motion.
Just like a toddler, you are making progress as long as you are still moving, even when it looks more like a shuffle than a sprint.
Self-Compassion Isn’t Self-Indulgence — It’s Smart Strategy
Here’s the myth that too many ambitious women still believe:
“If I go easy on myself, I’ll lose my edge.”
But that’s not grace — that’s fear wearing a motivational T-shirt.
Real self-compassion doesn’t make you complacent. It makes you capable. When you treat yourself with the same kindness and curiosity you offer others, you free up energy that’s been locked in guilt or self-judgment.
You stop wasting time proving your worth, and start living from it.
Sustainable success — the kind that doesn’t burn you out — comes from building a business and a life that honors your humanity. That includes rest. Reflection. Reframing what “enough” looks like in this season.
Rest is part of resilience. It’s a strategy in and of itself, not a reward.
Grace, like rest, isn’t a luxury — it’s your renewable source of strength.
You don’t have to earn the right to exhale. It’s always been yours, and it can’t be taken away.
Give Yourself Credit for the Process, Not Just the Outcome
Let’s go back to that running mental tally …
What if, instead of counting what’s unfinished, you counted what’s become?
Because every experiment, every setback, every “I’ll try again tomorrow” — those are the invisible reps that built your strength.
You’re becoming the kind of entrepreneur who keeps showing up even when motivation wavers (when it’s easier to fold and put away that laundry or get sucked into that book). The kind who chooses progress over perfection. The kind who’s rewriting her definition of success from “doing it all” to “doing what matters most.”
That’s not small. That’s monumental.
If you’ve worked through the Confidence Compass Power Tool from earlier this year, you’ve already seen how powerful it can be to pause and acknowledge what’s working. This is that — just deeper.
The Perfect Pairing: Gratitude and Grace
This month’s Mini Power Tool, The 30 Year-End Gratitude & Growth Journal Prompts, is designed to help you give yourself credit and see your growth in progress. It’s a blend of gratitude to amplify clarity, and grace to soften self-judgment.
When you sit with prompts like:
- “What did you handle with more grace than you would have last year?”
- “Which moment reminded you that you know what you’re doing?”
- “What challenged you the most this year — and what did it teach you?”
… you start seeing the mosaic of your year in full color. Not just the wins, but also the wisdom.
Gratitude and grace together create a kind of gentle power — the confidence to celebrate what’s working and the compassion to learn from what isn’t.
That’s growth in progress.
And that’s the bridge we’re walking together this week — from Give Yourself Credit to Growth in Progress.
How to Practice Giving Yourself Credit (Without Overthinking It)
You don’t need a full journaling ritual (though the prompts make it lovely if you do). Start simple:
- When you catch yourself saying, “I should be further along,” pause and list three ways you already are further along than you were six months ago.
- When you find your inner critic whispering “You messed that up,” respond with, “I learned something valuable there.”
- When you feel behind, remind yourself: “I’m building roots right now.”
Small reframes like these train your brain to see reality instead of running on old programming. It’s not toxic positivity. This is truthful awareness.
Action Step: Thank Yourself Out Loud
Yes, really. Out loud.
This week, list three things you’re proud of this year — especially the ones no one else may have noticed.
Then say, out loud, “Thank you, [your name], for doing that.”
It might feel weird at first, but you’re rewiring your brain for self-recognition. You’re teaching it to celebrate your process, not just your performance.
And if you’d like some guidance to keep that reflection going, become a Tenacious WFH Insider or VIP (for as little as $5.83/month) and grab this month’s Mini Power Tool: 30 Year-End Gratitude and Growth Journal Prompts. It’s a gentle, structured way to wrap up your year with clarity, confidence, and calm — no pressure, just presence.
You Deserve to Feel Proud, Not Just Productive
You’ve done more than you think. You’ve grown more than you realize. You’ve been building something beautiful — even in the seasons that felt like starting over.
So take the win. Take the breath. Take the moment to honor how far you’ve come.
And when you’re ready to dig a little deeper into your gratitude and growth, upgrade to Insider/VIP for access to this month’s Mini Power Tool and the full archive of past tools. You’ll get a full year of confidence and care in your back pocket — ready to support your next season of tenacious, wholehearted work-from-home success.
Because you’re not just doing enough.
You’re becoming everything you’re meant to be.