As we come to the end of this year, it's a time when it's natural to look back and assess how well you've done with your writing (or other career or goal). Most likely, you'll find that your results were mixed: success in some areas, but not yet in others. It's also natural for us to focus more on the things that haven't worked out for us yet, and sometimes that's depressing. That's why I thought this is a good time to suggest something that it took me quite a while to figure out:
You are not your career.
Your value as a person and your status as a writer (or other work-related position) are two different things. This is sometimes difficult for creative people to get. Instead, we equate our value as people with how well our careers are going. This is false and even dangerous.
As you do your year-end evaluation, also consider all the other things you are: friend, son/daughter, parent, sister/brother, teacher/learner, and....just plain human being. It's enough.
