There’s something about this time of year that brings everything to the surface.
Another year ending. A new one on the horizon.
A quiet question whispering beneath all the noise:
Shouldn’t I be further along by now?
Maybe this year didn’t unfold the way you hoped.
Maybe you’re closing out the year feeling tired, behind, or a little disappointed in yourself.
Or maybe you hit big milestones—but you’re still wondering what any of it really meant, and whether it was truly worth it.
You’re not alone. That feeling of “not enough” is far more common than anyone admits.
But here’s what I want you to hear today, clearly and without hesitation:
You are not behind.
You are not too late.
You are not failing.
You are already enough.
And you are exactly where you need to be.
Why “Not Enough” Shows Up Right Now
There’s a reason this feeling hits hardest at the end of the year.
It’s not weakness, lack of discipline, or a sign that you “should” be trying harder.
It’s human.
Research shows that 92% of people finish the year believing they didn’t accomplish enough—even when they exceeded the goals they set twelve months earlier. Not because they failed, but because they measure their success against a constantly shifting standard. Once they hit one milestone, the bar moves. Then it moves again.
Psychologists call this the Goalpost Effect—the tendency for high performers to raise the target every time they get close to achieving it. It creates a constant sense of falling short, even in seasons full of growth.
And it hits women even harder.
Studies from McKinsey, Gallup, and Deloitte show that high-achieving women consistently underestimate their progress while overestimating what’s left to do.
They carry the invisible load at home and work.
They downplay achievements.
They assume their success “isn’t enough yet,” and
They internalize the belief that they must always be doing more, contributing more, becoming more.
Layer in end-of-year reflections—holiday pressure, comparison, cultural expectations, the emotional weight of another year passing—and it’s no wonder the “not enough” story gets louder.
But here’s what I’ve learned through experience and from the women I coach:
Feeling “not enough” rarely has anything to do with how much you actually accomplished.
It has everything to do with forgetting the truth of who you are.
The world tells you to measure your worth by productivity, achievement, performance, or pace.
But none of those metrics can capture the fullness of who you are.
The truth?
You were created with gifts the world needs.
Your voice matters more than you know.
Your presence carries impact.
Your life holds purpose whether you hit every goal on your list or none at all.
And the simple fact that you’re still here—still growing, still trying, still believing, still showing up for your life even on the hard days—is not evidence of inadequacy.
It’s evidence of strength.
It’s evidence of resilience.
It’s evidence that you are becoming more aligned, more grounded, and more aware than you were a year ago.
Progress doesn’t always look like milestones or metrics.
Sometimes it looks like endurance.
Sometimes it looks like clarity.
Sometimes it looks like choosing not to quit, even when it’s hard.
A Reframe for This Season
As you close out this year, consider viewing your path through a different lens:
1. You’re further than you think.
Most progress is invisible while it’s happening. You don’t realize you’ve grown until life asks you to use that growth.
2. Your worth isn’t tied to your productivity.
Your value isn’t measured in checked boxes. You bring something irreplaceable simply by being who you are.
3. Your gifts are needed—right now.
Not the future, polished, perfected version of you.
This version. The one living, learning, trying, and choosing to keep going.
What you offer—your insight, your leadership, your heart—is already shifting conversations, shaping decisions, and strengthening the people around you.
4. Your story is still unfolding.
If you woke up today, your purpose is still in motion. You’re not late. You’re not lost. You’re in process.
Don’t back down.
Don’t shrink back.
Don’t talk yourself out of the impact you were created to make.
Keep going!
Action Step: 3 anchor Practices for this week
1. Name three things you’re proud of from this year—no matter how small.
Your brain is wired to skip over wins; this retrains the pattern.
2. Ask yourself:
Where did I grow, even if the outcome doesn’t show it yet?
Growth almost always precedes visible results.
3. Speak this out loud:
“I am already enough. My life has meaning. My work has impact. I’m here for a reason”
Your nervous system listens to your voice more than anyone else’s.
How I Can Help
If you’re wrestling with that quiet feeling of “not enough” and want support stepping into a more aligned, grounded season, here are three ways we can go deeper:
- Purchase my International Bestselling Book that goes through the framework that has helped 1,000+ coaching and executive clients. You can find more information HERE.
- Join the Powerhouse Women Network! Find more information HERE.
- Build a custom strategy to reach your goals without burning out or compromising your purpose. Find out more information on this FREE complimentary call.
Your turn to reflect a step further:
Where have you been believing the lie of “not enough”—and what would shift if you believed you already were?
You’re doing better than you think.
And you’re needed more than you know.
– Christi Cossette
