Disappointment is tough.
No matter how long you’ve been “in the game” or how many times you’ve rallied through unexpected outcomes, stood still after false-starts, or lead others through uncharted changes… the discomfort of disappointment still gets to us all.
Case in point: I had a BIG speaking opportunity overseas fall through this week.
And, at first, it stung.
Like, stung.
It felt like a dozen bees directly to the heart!
That little wobble of “not-enoughness” crept in.
And, the world was a bit heavier in the moment.
I don’t know about you, but my goal in life is to connect with others in such a way that they feel more seen, heard, and valued than before I met them. Safety and empowerment are drivers for this.
My values and ethics drive me.
Always.
Even so, sometimes, when I sit still long enough, I hear a little whisper that asks: “Am I even making a dent in the world?”
It’s sneaky, that thought. And, at it’s core is latent self-doubt.
Last night, I shared this with my partner.
The doubt.
The not-enoughness.
Her response was simple but profound: “ZOOM OUT.”
Not “try harder.”
Not “prove yourself.”
Just: ZOOM OUT.
The Power of Perspective
When you’re zoomed in on a single moment — or day, or week—your impact can feel like a handful of scattered dots on a page.
Small kindnesses. Tiny moments. Quiet choices no one else might notice go unnoticed by ourselves.
But zoom out to a year. To a decade. To a lifetime.
And, boom!
Suddenly, those dots connect into constellations.
You see the picture forming. You see your universal-impact-picture forming.
You understand your impact from a viewpoint where you can take in the view and reframe moments of disappointment into moments of growth.
The Small Stuff Matters
The small stuff isn’t small when you add it all up.
A smile to the stranger who needed it.
A quick “How are you, really?” to the barista who sees hundreds of faces but not always hearts.
Holding the door open.
Checking in on a friend.
Listening to a stranger’s story.
Sharing your story so someone else feels less alone.
None of these things will trend on Instagram. None of them are “big splash” moments.
But stacked up, day after day, they are the bricks of legacy. They are the reason people remember you not just for what you achieved, but for how you made them feel.
Consistency Is A Quiet Superpower
Impact isn’t just about the big, flashy milestones—the award, the promotion, the launch. It’s about showing up consistently, even when it feels like no one’s watching. Especially when no one’s watching.
Think about fitness: one workout won’t transform you. But months of moving your body? That builds strength.
Think about leadership: one inspiring speech doesn’t make you a great leader. Showing up again and again with clarity, empathy, and courage does.
Consistency compounds.
Zoom out far enough, and you’ll see the through-line of your choices shaping not just your own story, but the stories of everyone you touch.
Tracking Wins Over Time
Here’s the thing: humans are notoriously bad at remembering the full arc of our own impact. We get stuck in the weeds. We tally the losses and forget the wins.
That’s why tracking matters. Write it down. Journal. Keep a “kindness ledger.” Start a note in your phone with moments that remind you who you are when you’re at your best.
Because when you zoom out, you’ll want proof.
And there it will be: a collection of reminders that the small stuff was never small.
The Bigger Picture Is YOU
Self-worth doesn’t come from one epic moment. It comes from the accumulation of little ones. The bigger picture of your life is painted stroke by stroke, not in a single sweep of the brush.
So next time you feel small, insignificant, or invisible, remember: Zoom out.
Zoom out to see the stranger you comforted, the friend you supported, the family you loved, the community you showed up for. Zoom out to see the work, the growth, the laughter, the grit.
Because when you zoom out far enough, the picture isn’t just big. It’s breathtaking. And it’s yours.
We have to keep writing our sentences.
Why? Because those sentences add up to our stories.
So here I am, still showing up, still saying yes to possibility, and still choosing reckless optimism.
Because the right stages, the right people, and the right opportunities always arrive when we keep showing up.
One comma in a sentence is simply a place to catch our breath and sharpen our pencil.
One redirection doesn’t erase the impact I’ve already made, the lives I’ve been able to change for the better, or the momentum I’ve built.
I stopped, reflected, and reframed.
What I’ve learned over decades of high-highs, low-lows, and beige in-betweens is that one no isn’t a stop sign, it’s a comma.
Every “no” I’ve gotten has redirected me toward a better “yes.”
To anyone else facing a cancelled plan or a closed door— ZOOM OUT.
Your story is bigger than this moment.
