“The sky is not a support for the weather. It is what the weather moves through.”
Have you ever felt like everyone else is moving forward while you are staying in place? It is easy to look around and assume other people have everything figured out.
You work hard every single day. Yet it feels like you are not getting anywhere. Self-doubt creeps in, and you wonder if you are simply not good enough.
I know that feeling well.
A year ago, I packed up my life in Kent and moved to the UAE.
Moving to the UAE changed everything. Suddenly, I was starting from scratch. My established network was gone, and finding my footing in a new country was much harder than I expected. On top of adjusting to a new environment, watching the war unfold in the region over this past year has brought an added weight and uncertainty to daily life.
I was trying to build something new while watching others carry on seamlessly with their careers. It felt heavy and deeply discouraging.
Through my own experience and my work supporting others, I began to understand why this happens. When we are tired or under stress, our inner critic takes control. The part of us that feels defeated speaks loudest, and its thoughts feel like absolute truth. Our brains naturally focus on potential threats, which makes it hard to see the bigger picture. We forget what we have already achieved.
This is where connecting with your observer self helps.
Picture yourself as the sky. Your thoughts, worries and doubts are just clouds passing through. The sky remains steady, regardless of the weather.
When you feel inadequate or behind, try taking these practical steps:
Ground yourself. Take a slow, deep breath. Feel your feet flat on the floor and place a hand over your chest.
Listen without arguing. Notice the part of you that feels tired or discouraged. You do not need to push it away or fight it.
Ask a clear question. Ask your calm, wise self what this anxious part of you actually needs right now.
Major transitions often force us to explore paths we would never have considered otherwise. They teach us resilience and help us grow in unexpected ways.
Your feelings are real, but they do not tell the whole story. You have come much further than you think, and you are not alone.
