from self-care to confidence—my learnings.
The year’s not over yet, but I’ve already learned enough to fill a post.
I’m pretty sure some of these learnings have been dropped on me before—but most things don’t stick until you are ready to hear them.
So, if you’re into little life hints, here’s what I’ve picked up so far:
I’ve known for a while that I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. But here’s the big news—I don’t have to prove anything to myself either. What actually matters is that I take care of myself. And if there’s any energy left, I can support the people around me. That’s it.
Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you work on. My anxiety doesn’t exactly help with this, but I can still practice. It’s all about trying, messing up, and realizing the world doesn’t fall apart. Start small, find a safe space, and take tiny, baby steps.
No one thinks about me as much as I think about myself. Everyone’s wrapped up in their own stuff. So that thing I find super embarrassing? No one else probably even noticed. Instead of stressing about what others might think, I’m better off being kind to myself—because let’s be honest, I’m usually the one with the worst feedback.
Happiness isn’t about outcomes—it’s about expectations. The same thing can feel awesome or disappointing, depending on what I was hoping for. As a perfectionist, this one’s tough but worth working on. Otherwise, I’ll just keep feeling stuck, like nothing’s ever “enough” to feel good about it.
about the author:
Hi there! I'm Silja, the founder of the wholesome growth club, an inclusive hub for career coaching with a soft spot for introverts and perfectionists. I’m an Amsterdam-based expat, but I love connecting with people worldwide. With a background in recruiting, I know the struggle of crafting a career path that feels truly yours. At the wholesome growth club, we're all about fostering sustainable growth, meaningful engagement, and authentic connections. Our blog is dedicated to making coaching accessible and sharing insights to approach work and life with an extra dose of confidence, slow productivity, and self-compassion. If you are curious to make things happen for yourself, get in touch—we offer personalized coaching journeys that will get you closer to your (dreamy) goals in no time.
