You're Getting Close. That's Why It's Getting Tough!
The quiet signs you're making progress, why this part of the journey feels the hardest, and how to keep moving when giving up seems easier than continuing.
Hello you 🤍
Lately, I’ve felt super inspired by what I see you respond to.
Yes—you, dear reader.
I notice you. I follow along every day, through every interaction you choose to have within our Substack community.
And I appreciate you. Thank you.
We See Ourselves in These Words
The other day, I posted a note that said:
“You’re getting close. That’s why it’s getting tough.”
So many of you reacted to it.
I guess it’s because we can all see ourselves in those words.
We know how it feels when we’ve been consistent for a long time, yet the results aren’t blowing up.
Instead, they build day by day, leaving small marks along the way. The “blow up” often isn’t a sudden explosion—it’s steady, quiet progress. Sometimes you can clearly see it developing, and sometimes you can’t.
So what feeling tends to hit us?
“You’re getting close. That’s why it’s getting tough.”
Because this is where it counts.
This is the moment you decide whether you’ll stay in the game or throw in the towel.
What does “You’re getting close. That’s why it’s getting tough.” really mean?
It means you’re standing at the point where most people quit.
The excitement has faded. The results aren’t as obvious as you’d hoped. Doubt starts getting louder.
But this is also where consistency begins to separate those who reach their goals from those who don’t.
What "You're Getting Close" Really Means
That’s why I created a few supporting tools for you today—tools that I truly hope you’ll love and appreciate as much as I do.
We’ll look at:
What getting closer actually looks like.
The signs you’re getting closer than you think.
And finally, how to stay consistent and keep moving through those moments when giving up feels easier than continuing.
Let’s keep moving, because that’s the only way forward.
What Getting Closer Actually Looks Like
Getting closer doesn’t always look exciting.
It rarely feels like a movie moment where everything suddenly clicks and life changes overnight.
More often, it looks quiet.
It looks like showing up again, even when yesterday didn’t bring the results you hoped for.
It looks like creating when no one is clapping yet.
It looks like trusting your process before you have proof that it’s working.
Getting closer often feels slower than you’d like.
Sometimes it even feels like you’re moving backwards.
But if you look closely, you’ll notice the small signs.
You’re learning faster.
You’re becoming clearer.
You’re making decisions with more confidence.
You’re recovering quicker from setbacks.
You’re building habits that no one can take away from you.
These are all signs of progress.
The biggest shifts usually happen long before they’re visible to everyone else.
So don’t mistake quiet progress for no progress.
Keep going.
Because getting closer often looks exactly like where you are right now.
The Signs You’re Getting Closer Than You Think
Sometimes, the biggest sign that you’re getting closer isn’t what you can see—it’s what you can feel.
You start asking better questions.
You become more patient with the process.
You stop comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle.
You notice that you’re no longer waiting to feel motivated before taking action.
You simply begin.
You recover faster after a setback.
You trust yourself a little more than you did yesterday.
The work starts feeling more natural.
You become less attached to instant results and more committed to showing up.
And maybe the biggest sign of all:
You keep going, even when no one is watching.
Because getting closer isn’t always about reaching the finish line.
Sometimes, it’s about becoming the person who no longer gives up before they get there.
If these signs sound familiar, take them as a reminder:
You’re probably much closer than you think.
And Finally... How to Stay Consistent When Giving Up Feels Easier
There will be moments when stopping feels easier than continuing.
That’s normal.
Every person building something meaningful has stood in that exact place.
When those moments come, don’t ask yourself, “Do I feel like doing this today?”
Instead, ask yourself, “Who do I want to become?”
Remember why you started.
Remember the version of you who dreamed about where you are today.
Take one small step.
Not ten.
Not twenty.
Just one.
Consistency isn’t built through perfect days.
It’s built by continuing on the ordinary days.
The messy days.
The doubtful days.
The days when no one notices.
Those are the days that shape you.
Those are the days that create momentum.
And one day, you’ll look back and realize that the breakthrough wasn’t a single moment.
It was every small decision you made not to give up.
So keep moving.
Even if today’s step feels tiny.
A tiny step forward is still forward.
And that’s all you need.
Before You Go...
Thank you so much for reading along.
You’re fab.
Yes, you are.
Loop it. Affirm it.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, please click the link below.
I created this product: ‘‘6 x 60-minute private sessions over 30 days - Start, Grow & Monetize Your Newsletter (from zero to a clear, growing Substack)’’ for you to support you every step of the way as you build your Substack and grow with both strategy and inner alignment.
I genuinely want to see you win—in exactly the way you hope and dream of.
Let’s do it.
Link: ‘‘Work With Me: 1:1’’
See you there.
Best,
Jasmin
About the Author 🤍
Hi, I’m Jasmin.
I write about building a life you love—where mindset meets strategy.
Through Life as a Design Process, I share both the inner work (identity, clarity, purpose) and the practical side (newsletter growth, monetization, and building income online).
As a mom, freedom means everything to me—so I believe in creating in a way that supports real life.
Deep reflection meets practical execution.
Welcome. xx
What helped me (and might help you too)
💌 Stop Being Invisible on Substack (in 7 Days)
A simple, step-by-step system to help you go from posting into the void to actually being seen.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do each day—so you can build visibility, start conversations, and create real momentum on Substack without overthinking it.
💌 The Substack Growth Bundle
Your complete system for long-term Substack growth.
This bundle goes deeper—covering visibility, engagement, and content strategy—so you can build an audience, create real connection, and grow with clarity instead of guessing.
By upgrading to paid, you get:
Subscriber-only posts, full content archive, and access to a monthly group coaching call focused on life design, mindset, Substack growth and monetization.
Please note: The monthly group coaching call takes place on the 21st of every month. If you’d like to attend, it is your responsibility to reach out for the details and access link.
And honestly… we both know your latte habit costs more than this subscription 🤍
This really resonated with me, especially the reminder that quiet progress is still progress. I think we often mistake a lack of visible results for a lack of growth, when in reality so much of the transformation is happening beneath the surface. Thanks for this beautiful reminder to keep showing up.
That’s an enlightening post, so many things to learn about consistency:) . Love how you say after a point consistency separates those who will carry on doin the work even if the results are not explosive, and those who will quit. Ultimately it’s the small steps that count..