2/2/26: When It’s Not Time to Quit-It’s Time to Give Yourself Grace

We’re just over a month into 2026—are your goals still moving forward, or did momentum stall before the year really started?  If things aren’t going exactly as you hoped I can almost guarantee you are not alone.  

It is easy to feel motivated and inspired when you imagine all that is possible and put those goals to paper, but it is very different to make a plan and take steps.  Maybe January hasn’t given you that renewed sense of energy and invigoration you had expected.  Maybe you’ve hit unanticipated hiccups.  Or perhaps, after the “new and shiny” wore off, you are realizing you created a goal that may be out of reach.  Is it time to give up or give yourself some grace?

There is a time and place to “give up,” but most of the time it’s not quitting—it’s realigning. You might be wondering what that looks like; here’s an example. 

When I launched my business in April 2025, a goal was to launch a podcast.  I kept pushing the date due to various obstacles and distractions, but then I had a realization.  If I can keep putting it off this easily, maybe it isn’t as important as I thought it was.  As I sat down to consider my 2026 goals, I decided a podcast was no longer a priority.  I am not saying that down the road I may not have interest, but as I am building and growing, it would be a distraction.  I have “given up” on a podcast.

Now the other side of the coin is giving grace.  Giving grace is the ability to “forgive” others, and more importantly yourself, for miscues.  As you can imagine, it is a lot harder to give yourself the grace than it is for others.

If things aren’t going quite perfect, you are less than 10% through the year, you have a lot of time to get back on track.  What can that look like?

In December, I resolved to get below 200 pounds by my birthday (end of January).  I started going to the gym again and made very small adjustments to what I was eating.  I made immediate progress getting half way to my goal in the first few weeks.  But, when I went back right after the new year, I had gained back a couple pounds, then a couple more the next week.  Then I got sick and exhausted and missed a couple weeks of the gym.  I can only imagine where I am right now.  

Admittedly, part of me is very frustrated and wants to give up, but I put a high value on my personal wellness in 2026 and know that giving up on this small goal will not bring me closer to that goal.  So, instead of giving up, I am giving myself grace.

What does that grace look like?

For me and this situation it looks like knowing I’ve been fighting illness and I need to let my body heal.  Running myself down will not get me further ahead.  It also looks like acknowledging I haven’t made all the choices I need to, primarily around food, to reach my goal, but I know I can change that.  Now, I am adjusting the timeline on my goal and the actions to get me there.  I am choosing to move on from my missed expectations and setting myself up for success.

Imagine what it would be like to give yourself that kind of grace when you missed a mark or never started the voyage toward a goal.  We are often eager to look at what we haven’t done instead of what we have, or think about what we are incapable of versus what we are capable of.  The ability to give grace is a skill.  It must be practiced, and the best place to start is with yourself.

So if you are rolling into February and aren’t where you thought you would be, whether it is toward those personal or professional goals-don’t give up!  Give yourself grace!  You have permission to re-evaluate and re-adjust and start a new path to success. 

Where is one place in your work or life where you feel like giving up?  Does it require grace and re-evaluation—or has it truly lost importance?Did you know a large part of coaching is being a cheerleader?  I hope that you have a friend or family member who is there to push you, but if you need someone in your corner I can be your lady!  Start 2026 with a push in the right direction – click here to book a FREE discovery call!

**I talked about measuring what you’ve accomplished versus the undone.  I highly recommend “The Gap and the Gain” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Harty. **