How to Move Forward When It Feels Impossible

25 days left - is this the best time for one final push to change our lives before the new year hits (which always symbolizes a fresh start), or have we done enough and it’s time to lean back and enjoy the ride, so to speak?

It’s quite symbolic, 25 days until 2025. I have to admit that 2024 has been both a curse and a blessing. It’s been one of the most, if not THE most, challenging years, where life constantly threw obstacles my way. But it's also been a blessing because this year I reached one of my biggest goals - I got the citizenship of the country I once came to with almost nothing - just 200 Euros in my pocket, 2 or 3 suitcases, and big ambitions of becoming a full-time designer and artist, with no idea how to make it work.

Here’s the thing about achieving goals: it’s crucial not to let the shine of our successes overshadow the present. When we allow this to happen, we end up fixating on a single achievement while neglecting other important paths we’re working toward. Does that make sense? Don’t get me wrong - it's essential to take a step back and acknowledge our achievements. But at the same time, we need to stay focused on the life we're living right now and the goals we’re still working on.

For many of us, this year has been one of the toughest. Many of you have reached out to share your stories, and I want to sincerely thank you for that, from the bottom of my heart. First of all, I want you to know that you’re not alone in this struggle, and you’re not defined by the fear or stress you may be feeling right now.

This is a temporary phase, and by focusing on one task at a time, you’ll begin to see progress. You're stronger than you realize, and this is just one chapter in a much larger journey.

Even the most successful entrepreneurs face moments when they question everything and feel like they’re failing. What do they do? They show up every day, try to keep the momentum going, and find ways to stay connected to their work.

👇
Now, here are a couple of additional thoughts on how to keep going.

1️⃣ When your mind feels blurry because of something beyond your control, like anxiety or fear, I want you to remember your starting point: why you began, and what your big goal was. Isn't your current life the one you once couldn’t believe you’d ever have? This is a powerful reminder of our own abilities. We tend to take things for granted when everything is smooth, but when things get tough, that's when we wake up and realize how far we’ve come.

After getting my new passport, I went to the place where my love for this country was born - the place where I came as a volunteer with big ambitions but no idea how things would work out. Here’s the YouTube video about it, by the way. I was standing there, crying, reflecting on how much I’ve achieved. And so can you - find that starting point, feel the immense gratitude, and take pride in the fact that you did this - not anyone else.

2️⃣ Another crucial component of getting through tough times is having support - people who believe in you more than you believe in yourself. People who will keep you accountable. I want to sincerely thank my students at the Academy, who, after I shared a very personal note about what I’m going through, supported me like family. If you're reading this, your support means the world to me.



Our recent London meet-up actually inspired our upcoming Big Success Challenge at the Academy, where we’ll be preparing for a powerful start to 2025.

👉 We’ll be focusing on things like defining our goals for 2025, creating a marketing and social media strategy, dealing with setbacks, building new habits, and so much more. We’ll be meeting and leveling up every day for 7 days, all together! Of course, you can join us HERE.
This is the energy we’re bringing to this challenge, and honestly, it will also be a powerful boost for me too, so we’ll all be growing together!

Here’s a powerful reminder: remember those times when you thought that dark period of your life would never end, and then you came out stronger as a completely different person? I can definitely say this - there are two particular times in my life when I thought it was the end and had no idea how to move forward, but it all worked out, somehow even better than I could have imagined.

We’ve got this together. I’m looking forward to leveling up together at the ASDB Academy!

Warmest,
Anna at @andshedrawsbig