What Doing Your Best Looks Like in Different Seasons of Life
- Megan Devito
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
“Before law school, my best was always heavily awarded, praised, and validated with high scores or opportunities. Now, I’m just trying to be okay with what ‘my best’ looks like, even if it’s not the best.”
If you’ve ever been the gold-star kid, the one who thrives on feedback, high-fives, and tangible proof that you’re successful and at the top of your game, you probably understand how difficult it can be when you're suddenly in a new phase of life where you wonder if your best is good enough.
As life goes on, whether you're changing careers, getting married, raising, kids, moving, or going back to school, your best doesn’t always look like it used to. Things can feel heavier, busier, or more emotionally demanding.
You might wonder what happened to the support and encouragement that you used to rely on. How did your "best" turn into just getting out of bed, showing up, or doing the thing without any applause?
What the heck?!
Why “Doing Your Best” Feels Different Now
If you grew up praised for doing well, getting straight A’s, knocking every goal out of the park, being the one who people can depend on, then it makes sense that your brain equates success with results.
Effort + Recognition = Worth. Right?
Even if you know you’re smart, capable, and caring, it’s easy to feel like something’s off when you’re no longer in first place.
You learned that formula.
You lived by it.
And now... you’re unlearning it.
As you keep evolving, building new relationships, and becoming the woman you’re meant to be, there will be seasons where your effort doesn’t come with the same kind of recognition.
Where “success” looks like showing up in pajamas.
Where your wins are quiet.
Where no one’s clapping but you’re still moving forward.
And when that happens, you might start wondering:
Am I doing something wrong?
Am I doing enough?
(Psst… you’re doing great. Keep reading.)
What You Might Be Doing Right Now (Without Even Realizing It)
Second-guessing every step forward, wondering if you're doing it the “right” way
Comparing yourself to a past version who had fewer responsibilities, more time, or a simpler life
Pushing harder because, unless someone notices, it feels like it doesn't count
These habits might feel helpful, but they’re really signs that you’re still tying your worth to performance and other people’s approval.
Second-guessing can look like being thorough.
Comparison can feel like motivation.
Pushing harder can feel like ambition.
But all three can quietly keep you feeling stuck, small, and unsure of yourself.
What Needs to Change
You don’t need to work harder. You don’t need a new productivity system.
You need permission to grow into a new version of yourself.
This version of you isn’t weaker or less than because she’s not getting the applause she used to.
She’s wiser.
Stronger.
More grounded.
She’s doing the real work, without the gold stars.
And that is so much more powerful.
Start by asking:
What does “my best” actually look like right now?
What really matters in this season of my life?
How can I be proud of showing up, even if no one else notices?
When you take time to answer those questions honestly, you stop chasing external validation and start celebrating yourself.
When You Start Celebrating Yourself...
Here’s what changes:
You stop needing someone else’s approval to feel proud
You feel grounded, even when life feels messy
You give yourself credit because you deserve it
You start making decisions from trust instead of pressure
That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when you pause long enough to actually check in with yourself to take an honest look at shat’s going well. To figure out what YOU are proud of.
To figure out what’s not going well so you know where to focus your attention and intention.
🎉 What can you celebrate right now? 🎉
This is the exact kind of clarity we build together during a Boundaries & Balance Audit.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned after nearly 50 trips around the sun, it’s this:
Your best changes. Sometimes it’s polished. Sometimes it’s messy. But it’s always leading you toward the next version of yourself. You decide what that future version of yourself looks like!
Growth isn’t about proving yourself.
It’s about trusting yourself, especially when the road feels uncertain and uncomfortable.
Keep growing.
I’m cheering for you. 🎉
P.S. If you’re ready to stop pushing so hard and start living with less pressure, let’s talk about how I can help you. Support, Accountability, and a System that works for you and your life!