7 MORE End of Year Reminders I Needed to Hear (And You Probably Do, Too!)
As we wrap up the year, I wanted to sit down and have a heart-to-heart about the lessons that have hit me the hardest this season. From postpartum changes to navigating life’s chaos, I’ve been learning (and re-learning) what it means to give myself grace.
This episode is a reflection of the seven reminders I’ve needed to hear lately—and I have a feeling you might need them too.
What’s Discussed:
Your body is incredible—just as it is.
Consistency beats perfection.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
Your goals don’t expire on December 31st.
You’re doing better than you think.
Growth doesn’t always feel good.
Healing isn’t linear and doesn’t have a deadline.
If you loved this episode, you’ll also love…
Episode 291: 5 End Of Year Embrace Your Real Reminders
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Transcript:
[00:00:00] Hey there, beautiful human. You're listening to Embrace Your Real with Me, Julie Ledbetter. A podcast where I empower you to just be you with each episode and issue a dose of real talk and actionable advice for. [00:00:12][12.1]
[00:00:12] Building your confidence, honoring your body and unconditionally loving your authentic self. [00:00:17][4.3]
[00:00:18] Stay tuned. If you're ready to embrace your real, let's get hands, girl. [00:00:21][3.7]
[00:00:29] Hello and welcome back to another episode on the Embrace Your podcast. The last episode we talked about seven end of the year reminders that really hit home for me and wow, your feedback on that episode just reminded me how much we're all navigating this messy, beautiful journey together. And as the year winds down, I really been reflecting even more on kind of what's been on my heart. Honestly, There's so much that I didn't get to share in that first episode, and so I really wanted to follow it up with seven more reminders. And these are deeper truths that have really shaped me in ways that I didn't expect truth that I think that we all need to carry with us into this new year. Life has honestly been a whirlwind since having Blake in July. And my body, my priorities, my mindset, it is genuinely all shifted, like 100% shifted. And while some days definitely feel harder than others, and if I could expand that to even weeks feel harder than others, I really just realized that the lessons that I have been learning over these last five months have genuinely been the foundation for my growth. Before we dive in, though, I want to share this review. It comes from Bebe. 707 She gave a five star review and said, Healing, inspiring and real. I love everything about this podcast. I'm a Christian, an army wife, a teacher, a mom of three, and recovering from eating disorders and body dysmorphia. For most of my life. Macro made simple and moment with Julie. This podcast in and of itself has transformed my relationship with weight, food and how I can give glory to God by being kind to myself. I used to think that the longer that I was at the gym really determine my results a little. Did I know that the time at the gym was just a tiny part of the equation? It really, genuinely brings me so much peace to know that my daughters now have an imperfect but solid and progressing example of health and self-care. By watching my journey towards healing and breaking down lifelong, unhealthy and destructive habits that I had. Thank you. Doesn't seem like an adequate word for how much I love, and I'm grateful to you, Julie, Josh and their team keep doing what you're doing. You have changed lives, my love, and God bless. I love this so much. There is so much packed in here. First of all, I just want to say thank you so much for taking time out of your day to send in this review. Also, the fact that you are in this journey and your three daughters get to or I'm assuming you have three daughters, if not the very least your daughters get to see your progress of just this, like you said, an imperfect but solid and progressing example. I love that so incredibly much. Thank you so much again for taking time out of your day to send in this review. If you guys could scooch over to Apple Podcasts and liberating interview, that would mean the absolute world to me and our team. All right, let's dive into seven more end of the year reminders I needed to hear and hopefully you do as well. Number one, time isn't the enemy, it's actually the gift. So as a mom this year for four, for the first time ever, I have really felt the weight of time more than ever in my life, like how quickly it passes, how there's never enough of it, How sometimes it feels like it's just slipping away. But I've had to really remind myself that time isn't the enemy. It truly is a gift. Like it genuinely is such a gift. And instead of stressing about not having enough time, I really tried to start focusing on being fully present with the time that I do have. So, you know, whether that's five minutes of mat time with Blake or a quick workout or a moment of gratitude before bed prayer, being intentional has really made all the difference and time feels more abundant. Truly, when you stop trying to control it and really start trying to appreciate it. If you have been overwhelmed by time like I have this past year, either because you feel like you're running out of it or you feel like it's moving too fast, I really just want to encourage you to try shifting your perspective. Look at time as an opportunity to savor the moments that matter, not as something to be or conquer or to keep up with. I think that that genuinely will change and transform so much of your day to day. And also maybe the stress that comes along with just the fact that you see time is so fleeting, right? Number two, you are allowed to redefine success. Success genuinely looks different for everyone. And this year I'm being completely transparent with you, Like this year has really taught me to redefine what it means to me. And for a long time, honestly, like the whole time that I've been here. And also just owning a business online, being online, all of those things, I've really measured success by reaching a certain outcome based on metrics. But for me, success has changed in so many different ways. And just like redefining that and now success to me feels like balance. It feels like peace. It feels like being present for the people and the things that matter most. And it's less about doing more and more and more. And instead it's it's it's all about being present and experiencing as much as I can. Redefining success means letting go of the pressure to meet other people's standards or timelines. And it genuinely means like you have to ask yourself what truly matters and giving yourself permission to focus on that even if it doesn't look impressive on the outside. Success can be as simple as finding joy in your day or making time for rest. If you personally have been chasing a version of success that doesn't feel fulfilling, I just want to encourage you to take a step back, reflect on what success looks like for you, not what the world says that it should be. Or maybe you do want to achieve those goals, but it's just not feasible in this moment. Just remember, you can always press pause for now and define okay, what is feasible in this season of life being realistic and also reevaluating what truly matters right now. You are allowed to rewrite success and that means that you can rewrite that at any period of time in your life. Which leads me to number three. Letting go is also a form of strength. And for much of my life, I personally have believed that strength meant holding on right, pushing through discomfort, clinging to goals, staying the course no matter what. And this year it genuinely I have like taken a step back and I've learned that sometimes the bravest thing that you can do is actually let go, let go of expectations, let go of old habits, or the pressure to be perfect or the pressure to be as consistent as you were in the previous season. And that in and of itself is just as powerful as holding on. And like, letting go doesn't mean that you're giving up. It means that you're actually making space for something new. It's about releasing what no longer serves you, whether that's a routine that isn't working, a mindset that's holding you back, a goal that no longer aligns with your priorities. It's recognizing that growth often requires a willingness to let go of what's comfortable or familiar. If you've been holding on to something out of fear. This is your reminder that there is so much strength in release. Like it takes courage to trust that letting go will actually lead you to where you're meant to be. And sometimes freedom and peace are not found in clinging, but in surrendering. Let me say that again. Sometimes freedom and peace and I will add contentment as well, are found not in clinging, but actually in surrendering. Number four, you are allowed to grieve the old version of yourself. I'm saying this through honestly, like teary eyes, but becoming a mom has been one of the most beautiful and transformative experiences in my life, But it's also brought so many moments of grief. [00:08:09][460.3]
[00:08:10] I've had days where I've genuinely missed, like who I was before. [00:08:14][3.6]
[00:08:15] The way that my body felt, the freedom to solely focus on myself, the simplicity of your responsibilities. And at first I really felt guilty for those feelings. But I learned that grieving your old self doesn't mean that you're ungrateful for who you are right now. Like it's okay to mourn who you were, even as you love who you're becoming. Like letting go of an old version of yourself is a process, and it's normal to feel this mix of emotions along the way. Like you're allowed to miss certain aspects of your past life while still embracing everything that this new chapter has to offer. It's really not this either or. It's both. And I think that this trans this process of transformation is part of growth. By allowing yourself to feel the sadness, to feel the joy, to feel the gratitude and everything in between. You are creating a space for your new identity to take shape. So if you've been feeling conflicted or guilty about missing the old you, whether that is your new mom as well, like right alongside me in this new season of life or something has changed drastically and you feel like you once were X, Y, and Z, and now you no longer are that or whatever. It is like massive life changes in your life. I just want you to know that it's normal and it's necessary and it's it's a part of evolving into the person that you're growing into. And I never want you to feel guilty for that. But I also want you to see the beauty in this season of life that you are in because there is so much beauty waiting for you to notice it and waiting for you to appreciate it. Number five The season you're in is your teacher. Every stage of life has lessons. Some are very subtle, others are very brutal. And for me, motherhood has honestly been this crash course in patience and surrender and redefining strength in redefining what my life and my priorities looks like. It has taught me to let go of control, to ask for help, to be present in ways that I never thought that I could. And while I wouldn't trade this season for anything, it isn't always easy. Like, honestly, it is one of the hardest things. If not the hardest thing I've gone through in my 34 years of life. But I want you to ask yourself, like, what is this season teaching me instead of rushing to the next one? So often I think that we are in such a hurry to move on that we miss the lessons right in front of us. Whether you're in a season of growth or healing or just trying to keep your head above water, there is something to learn from it. I want to encourage you to lean into the discomfort, to the joy, to the challenges of this moment. Each season prepares you for the next and the lessons that you're learning now, I guarantee, will serve you in ways that you can't even imagine yet. Trust that this season, no matter how messy, no matter how imperfect, is exactly where you're meant to be. Number six, You are so much more than what is visible this year. I really have spent a lot of time reflecting on the unseen parts of myself, like the thoughts, the emotions, the quiet growth that doesn't always show up in physical or measurable ways. And it's really easy to focus on the visible changes like progress in the gym or progress in your workouts or your nutrition or career milestones. But there is also so much more to who you are. Like the internal work, the healing, the resilience, the mindset shifts matter just as much, if not more, than what's on the surface. And growth oftentimes happens in the quiet, unseen moments when no one is watching. Don't discount that progress that you've made simply because it might not be obvious to others. This is your reminder that you are so much more than what the world can see. Celebrate the invisible victories, the private moments of strength, the quiet ways that you've shown up for yourself. Those are just as important, if not more so, than the external. And last but not least, number seven. You can be grateful and still want more. One of the hardest lessons that I have personally learned this year is that gratitude and ambition can coexist. Like gratitude for what? I have a healthy baby who is the love of my life. He is the reason why I do what I do. I didn't know what I was missing until I had him. Like he is genuinely like a part of my soul that I'm like, I didn't even know that I was missing this until he came into the world. I have a loving family. I have a career that I'm so wildly passionate about. But that doesn't cancel out the desire for growth or change. And for a long time I really thought that wanting more meant I wasn't appreciating what I already had. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Like you're not greedy, you're not ungrateful for dreaming about what's next while appreciating what's here, right? Those two can coexist together and they often times can fuel each other. Gratitude gives you this solid foundation to build upon while ambition drives you and keeps you moving forward. There's nothing wrong with wanting to grow, even if your life is already full to the brim, overflowing with blessings. So have you been holding yourself back from really setting these big goals just because you're maybe afraid of looking ungrateful? I want to encourage you to let that go. Gratitude and growth go hand in hand, and it is perfectly okay to embrace both. As you move towards the life that you want. So there you have it. There is seven more. I got real and raw reminders that I needed to hear before the new Year hit. And I'm hoping and praying that some of you guys needed to hear this as well. Like I said in last week's episode, all of this really this just sums up giving yourself lots and lots and lots of compassion and trusting the process along the way. Let me quickly recap what I talked about in today's episode. Number one Time isn't the enemy, it's actually the gift. Number two, you are allowed to redefine success. Number three, letting go is a form of strength, too. Number four, you are allowed to grieve the old version of yourself. Number five, the season that you're in is your teacher. Number six, you are more than what's visible. And last but not least, number seven. You can be grateful and still want more. If you love this episode, I know you will also love Episode 400. If you feel like you failed this year. Listen up. That's a great pep talk episode as well. So as we kind of are closing out the year, you know, if you're just reflecting on this past year and you're like, Man, I feel like I failed in X, Y, and Z and you just fell down on yourself. I want you to tune in to that episode. I will link it in the show notes Episode 400 Again, If you feel like you failed this year, listen up and you can easily go tune in to that. But that is all that I have for today's episode. I would love to hear kind of your moments. I would love to hear how this episode that maybe encouraged you, reminded you of something. I love connecting with you guys, but that is all that I have for today. I love you so much. I mean it. I'll talk to you next one. [00:15:14][418.7]
Speaker 1: [00:15:21] All right, sister. That's all I got for you today. But I have two. [00:15:25][3.5]
Speaker 2: [00:15:25] Things that I need you to. [00:15:26][1.0]
[00:15:26] Do. First thing, if you're not already following me on the gram. [00:15:29][3.0]
[00:15:30] Be sure to do so, Julie. A lot better. Yes, it's with an A in the middle for that. [00:15:34][4.0]
[00:15:34] Daily Post workout, Real talk, healthy tips and tricks. [00:15:37][3.2]
[00:15:38] And honest accountability to keep your mind and heart in check. The second thing. [00:15:42][3.8]
[00:15:42] Be sure to subscribe. [00:15:43][0.6]
[00:15:43] To Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. Thank you so much. [00:15:48][4.4]
[00:15:48] For joining me. It means the absolute world. [00:15:50][1.9]
[00:15:51] And I'm going to leave you with one last thought. The most beautiful women that I have met in my. [00:15:55][4.2]
[00:15:55] Life are the ones who are completely confident and secure in being authentically themselves. [00:16:01][5.8]
[00:16:02] Remember that beauty goes so much deeper. [00:16:04][1.8]
[00:16:04] Than the surface. So go out there and embrace Maria, because you're worth it. [00:16:04][0.0]