Finding Peace in Progress: ‘Love With All Your Heart, and Try for Peace of Mind’

Reflections on the Importance of Celebrating Milestones, Embracing the Journey and Acknowledging How Far We’ve Come

I recently had the opportunity to help produce a special segment for a company’s long service awards, celebrating the commitment and dedication of their long-time team members. It was an amazing experience to be part of a live sand art storytelling performance, where we brought the company’s milestones to life and honoured the journey that got them here.

The response was incredible. At the dinner buffet afterward, my favourite part of events - mingling with the audience and diving into conversation, turned out to be even more special than usual. Instead of the usual mix of feedback, I was met with overwhelmingly positive comments about how moving the experience was. One guest in particular, shared how moved she was and that it reminded her of the importance of pausing to remember the milestones, to celebrate both the struggles and the successes, and to see just how far they’ve come as a team.

It got me thinking about how rare it’s become for people to stay with companies for the long haul. These days, career paths are more like winding roads than straight highways, and commitment often seems like a thing of the past. But watching that story unfold... seeing the challenges, the triumphs, and the camaraderie along the way - this reminded me of something crucial: the importance of taking a moment to acknowledge how far we’ve come. We’re all struggling in our own way, and we each have our own stories. It’s easy to get so caught up in reaching the next goal or crossing off the next item on the to-do list that we forget to celebrate the ground we’ve covered and the resilience it took to keep going.

I’m reminded of a conversation I had with an old bestie, sparked by something a beloved friend once taught us: “Love with all your heart and try for peace of mind.” Peace is truly the hardest thing to achieve. I get it now.

We often feel like we’re not as far along as we “should” be, but whose measure are we using anyway? Sometimes, we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be, even if it doesn’t feel like much. And that sense of “falling short” might just be the push we need to take action—one small step at a time. Because even baby steps create momentum, and once you start moving, you’ll find yourself further along than expected.

The thing is, you’ll never end up lower than where you started. Even if you stumble or fall short, you’ll come back stronger, armed with experience, new skills, and maybe even a story worth telling. The only time we truly stay stuck is when we don’t try.

Next time you hear that inner critic berating your pace or doubting your progress, remember this simple practice I adapted from former NBA coach David Nurse: SNAP your fingers to snap yourself out of it. It stands for:

? Stop

? Notice

? Acknowledge what you’ve overcome

? Pivot your mindset

Take a moment to breathe, recognise the strength it took to get here, and celebrate the journey, with all its twists and turns. And remember, the best stories aren’t just about reaching the destination—they’re about embracing every step along the way.