Let Go of the Guilt: Why “I am Proud of You” Might Be the Mantra You Need Most

A few months ago, I started ending my day with three words:

I am proud of you.

It started as part of my bedtime routine — just a few minutes of deep breathing before sleep.

I’d lie there, eyes closed, and notice how my mind immediately went to what I didn’t do that day. What I forgot. What still needed fixing.

That was my pattern for years — constantly looking at the gaps instead of the gains. No matter how much I did, it never felt like enough.

So I decided to change the conversation. Each night, before my mind could start picking myself apart, I’d whisper it:

I am proud of you.

At first, it felt uncomfortable. Forced, even. But the more I said it, the more I started to feel it. And something softened. It wasn’t about accomplishments or productivity — it was about acknowledging myself. For showing up. For doing my best. For holding it all together, even on the days it felt like too much.

Now it’s just part of how I close my day —a quiet way of tucking myself in, not with a to-do list, but with a bit of grace.

It reminds me that rest doesn’t need to be earned. That progress isn’t measured by how much I can squeeze into a day. And that I can be proud of myself — simply for being here, doing the work, and continuing to grow.

If you’ve been ending your days with guilt or frustration, try this instead.

Breathe. Let the day go. And tell yourself —

I’m proud of you.

You deserve to end your day that way.

Xo, LB