The Hero Within

The Hero Within:

Redefining What It Means to Achieve

I was thinking about The Hierophant card this morning - you know, all those traditional rules and expectations about what I "should" be doing - and it stopped me in my tracks. Not because it promised answers, but because it made me realise something: maybe I needed to stop following everyone else's rulebook and start recognising the hero within my own story.

The Weight of "Should"

We live in a world of should’s and shouldn'ts, don't we? Should exercise more, should eat better, should be more present with the kids, should have a cleaner house, should be further along in business, should, should, should. And then there's the flip side - shouldn't feel overwhelmed, shouldn't need that glass of wine to unwind, shouldn't struggle with ADHD brain fog, shouldn't compare myself to my siblings (or anyone else, for that matter).

The shoulds feel endless. They pile up like laundry in the corner of your bedroom - always there, always demanding attention, always making you feel like you're falling behind.

But what if the problem isn't that we're not doing enough? What if the problem is that we're not seeing what we're already accomplishing?

The Real Hero is within

For the past 90 days, I've been doing something radical: 30 minutes of movement, every single day. (most days) Not CrossFit. Not marathon training. Not anything that would look impressive on social media. I’ve been following a yoga and pilates app. Most the time its time out for me and other days I’m trying to plank with a baby on my back!

And you know what? I can see the difference. I feel stronger. I sleep better. My mind feels clearer. Progress doesn't always look like what we think it should look like.

The Invisible Victories

Yesterday, I caught myself in that familiar spiral of "I haven't done enough today." But then I stopped and actually looked at what I HAD done:

- An hour of exercise (even when I didn't feel like it)

- Research for three different client projects

- Two client sessions where I showed up fully present

- Helped my kids with homework and listened to their stories from school

- Made dinner from scratch (okay, semi-scratch - frozen vegetables count)

- Did a load of laundry AND folded it (this is huge for me)

- Responded to important emails

- Had a meaningful conversation with my partner about our weekend plans

When I listed it out like that, I realised something: I'd had a incredibly productive day. But because it didn't look like what I thought productivity "should" look like, I almost missed it entirely.

The Comparison Trap

Growing up, I constantly felt like I was being measured against my siblings. Different strengths, different challenges, same impossible standard of "good enough." That feeling follows you into adulthood if you let it - suddenly everyone on social media becomes a sibling to compare yourself to.

But here's what I'm learning: comparison is the thief of joy, and it's also the thief of recognition. When you're so busy looking at what everyone else is doing, you miss the magnitude of your own accomplishments.

The person struggling to get out of bed who manages to shower and eat breakfast? Hero.

The parent who keeps their kids fed and loved while managing their own mental health challenges? Hero.

The entrepreneur who sends three emails and follows up on one lead while dealing with ADHD brain fog? Hero.

The partner who shows up emotionally for their relationship even when they're overwhelmed? Hero.

Redefining Achievement

We can’t always make grand gestures or dramatic victories (though sometimes parenting feels pretty heroic). It's about courage, determination, and the willingness to keep moving forward even when you can't see the whole path ahead.

It's about recognizing that small, consistent actions compound into massive change. That 30 minutes a day for 90 days equals 45 hours of movement - almost a full work week dedicated to my health. That showing up for my clients, my kids, my partner, and myself every day, even imperfectly, creates a life of meaning and impact.

It's about understanding that being a good mum, a good partner, a successful business owner, and a human being with ADHD who sometimes needs that glass of wine (or the bottle) isn't a contradiction - it's the beautiful complexity of a real life, fully lived.

Your Hero's Journey

So what about you? What invisible victories are you dismissing? What small, consistent actions are you taking that don't feel significant but are actually changing everything?

Maybe you're the person who's been walking every day for a month. Maybe you're managing anxiety while building a business. Maybe you're learning to set boundaries while being a people pleaser. Maybe you're figuring out how to be present for your family while pursuing your own dreams.

All of it matters. All of it counts. All of it makes you the hero of your own story.

The next time you catch yourself in the "not enough" spiral, try this: make a list of what you DID accomplish. Not what you should have done, not what you didn't do, but what you actually did. I bet it's longer than you think.

Because the truth is, you're already doing things that other people find impossible. You're already showing up in ways that matter. You're already living your hero's journey.

You just need to start seeing it that way.

What would happen if you started celebrating your daily wins instead of focusing on what's left undone? Share your thoughts in the comments - I'd love to hear what victories you're ready to claim.