Progress Over Perfection: Reflections On When Things Don't Go As Planned

Today is day 12 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Yesterday was the 2nd one I have missed out of the 12 days. Both were Sundays that were a week apart. Here I am though back at it and hoping to be able to finish strong for the rest of the month.

Looking at all the things I navigate I am choosing to focus on what I have accomplished instead of what I haven't I am getting better at this. I used to be a tougher perfectionist with myself. When trying to consistently eat healthy and I "mess up" on a day, instead of going back to eating healthy, I would convince myself that since I messed up that day, I might as well continue eating what I want. Tomorrow I would do "better". Tomorrow's kept restarting.

As a business owner and content creator I would also self-sabotage myself because things didn't go as I planned they would. This would then leave me not taking any further actions and I would be stuck in a thought loop.

Our thoughts and beliefs can be debilitating if we allow them to be. What's helped me shift my mindset is to focus on the ways I made progress and celebrate that. Even if it is one thing, it is still worth celebrating.

For about a year now I have been wanting to to do vegan cookbook reviews on my YouTube channel. Yesterday I decided to record one. I chose three recipes to make. Two mains and cookies. I figured the mains could then be Sunday's dinner. It took me some time to get things prepped along with the various household interruptions. I just didn't have it in me to tackle the cookies. So I decided to focus on what I did accomplish and do the cookies the next day (which will be sometime today). I did get the mains done and recorded video. I also talked about how I didn't get everything accomplished as I had hoped. My kitchen was a mess and I left it that way instead of trying to make it look polished and perfect. I then said I would record another part with the cookies and share more then. I found a way to pivot with my plans and adapt.

So if you are feeling down and being hard on yourself for not accomplishing things exactly the way you wanted to, take a moment and reflect on what you did accomplish. Here are some journal prompts that can help.

Journal Prompts To Help You Focus On Progress Over Perfection

1. What didn’t go as planned recently, and how did I initially respond to it—emotionally and mentally?(No judgment here, just awareness.)

   
   

2. If I look beyond the “failure” or disappointment, where can I see evidence of progress I might be overlooking?

   
   

3. What expectations—mine or others’—were at play in this situation? Are these expectations realistic, kind, or aligned with my current season of life?

   
   

4. How would I speak to a close friend who experienced the same setback? What would it look like to offer myself that same compassion?

   
   

5. What did this experience teach me about my needs, boundaries, or capacity right now?

   
   

6. In what ways am I still showing up for myself, even if it doesn’t look the way I originally imagined?

   
   

7. What does “progress” mean to me today—not in an ideal world, but in my real life?

   
   

8. Where might perfectionism be protecting me, and where might it be holding me back?

   
   

9. What is one small, supportive step I can take next—without pressure to do everything at once?

   
   

10. If I trusted that I’m exactly where I need to be, how would I move forward differently?

    
    

What is an area in your life that you have recently experienced progress? Let me know in the comments.

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Jennifer Shlomovich is a Plant-Powered Lifestyle-Educator on a mission to help others improve their health by eating more plants.. As the only vegan in her household, she knows firsthand how challenging it can be to stay true to your values when the people around you aren’t on the same path. For years, she put everyone else’s needs ahead of her own, but through her journey, she discovered the power of setting boundaries, living by her values, and confidently prioritizing her well-being. On her YouTube channel, The Confident Vegan, she shares inspiring interviews, practical tips, and empowering conversations about what it really means to live in alignment with your values. She is also the co-host of That Vegan Morning Show with Kimberly Winters of the Did You Bring The Hummus podcast.