I recently came across this neat graphic that nicely illustrates what it takes to learn how to hit a target in life. It’s not about being perfect on the first try— rather it’s about consistently taking countless shots, learning from the misses, and improving over time.

This really resonated with me because I’ve definitely spent far too long in that first category: pulling back the bow, lining up the shot, aiming forever—but never actually releasing the arrow. The few times I have let go, it felt like the arrow missed the target so badly that it ended up injuring innocent bystanders and filling me with self-doubt. Those failures made me hesitant to try again, and over time, fear took over, and though I continued to draw the bow and aim my arrow, I stopped taking the shots. Over time the elasticity of the bow degraded, and eventually the target vanished from sight…. I gradually settled into a comfort zone—a life that, was truly quite comfortable. One with no real pressing need to aim for anything beyond where I already am.

But there’s a part of me—a deeper, restless part—that isn’t content to stay there. That part of me knows that if I stop taking shots and settle into that comfort then I’ll never truly be fulfilled. So it pushes me to wake up and reset my sights on my target and pick up the bow once more… Maybe that’s the call from my Bigger Self?

But starting over is so hard sometimes… When I do begin, I find myself running into a huge barrier – burnout. Not the kind of burnout that comes from doing too much, but the one born from self-judgment and perfectionism. It’s that voice in my head that criticizes every attempt I make, that compares me to some ideal version of myself I think I should be. The worst part is that this self-criticism drains me even more. Instead of resetting and accepting where I am, I spiral into distraction, trying to escape the discomfort of not having it all figured out.

That’s the habit—the cycle I’ve created. The more I judge myself for not being where I want to be, the harder it becomes to take any step at all. It’s like a mental loop that feeds on itself, building barriers between me and the goals I desperately want to reach. And in the process, I weaken the very part of me that intended to grow. My teacher says that mind is a muscle, and I clearly haven’t been exercising mine the right way. If anything, I’ve been doing the opposite: reinforcing pathways of self-doubt and self-criticism that lead nowhere.

But these days I’m learning to bring light and acceptance to those moments. I’m learning to stop punishing myself for the mistakes I’ve made and the times I’ve fallen short. It’s only through self-compassion that change becomes possible. Otherwise, the habit just continues—rooting itself deeper and becoming an addiction to destructive patterns of thought.

So, it’s okay that I’m not quite where I want to be. It’s okay that I’ve made mistakes. I truly accept where I am right now, and am ready to take responsibility for all of it. Only from this place of honesty and self-acceptance can I take the next step toward the life—and the me—that I want to create.

And the beautiful irony is I already have so much to be grateful for! An immense spiritual community that uplifts and supports me, a fiercely independent and loving family, an education and career, and some of the best friends anyone can ask for. Recognizing these blessings helps me see that I don’t need to pressure myself to get everything right today. The gratitude gives me clarity. And with that clarity I can set my sights on a new target and take my next shot.

So this is where I am right now – Choosing to aim to build myself up and become an embodiment of the values that I hold. To heal the parts of myself that are hurt from the failures and mistakes of the past. And to take that shot toward Bigger Self.

And hey I just hit my first target by making this post! =)