If December Made You Question Yourself, Read This!

 December has a way of slowing everything down. The year begins to feel heavier. As the noise of daily routines fades, many African women are left alone with their thoughts, replaying moments, decisions, missed opportunities, and quiet wins. It often starts with a simple reflection: “This year didn’t go exactly how I planned.” I should have done more.” “I should be further by now.” “Others seem to have it all figured out.” What we don’t always admit is that December doesn’t just bring closure; it brings comparison, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome to the surface.

Many African women enter a new year with clear intentions. We plan. We pray. We commit to growth. Yet life has a way of interrupting even the best-laid plans. Some of us spent this year managing family expectations alongside personal dreams, navigating motherhood while trying not to lose ourselves, carrying responsibilities we never signed up for, or simply trying to stay afloat in a year that demanded more than we anticipated. So when December arrives, and success is loudly celebrated online, it’s easy to feel like you somehow fell short, even when you didn’t.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t always sound dramatic. Sometimes it whispers quietly, “You only made it this far because of luck.” “You don’t really deserve that opportunity.” “Next year, they’ll realize you’re not good enough.” For African women, this feeling is often intensified by cultural expectations to always “have it together.” Strength becomes a performance. Struggle becomes something to hide. But the truth is, many women who look confident are also questioning themselves behind closed doors. You are not strange for feeling this way. You are human.

Not all progress comes with certificates, promotions, or public recognition. Sometimes progress looks like choosing rest over burnout, setting boundaries with family or work, leaving environments that drained you, starting again after disappointment, or learning hard lessons that reshaped your priorities. These moments rarely make it into year-end highlights, but they matter deeply. They shape who you are becoming. And becoming is just as important as achieving.

Instead of only asking “What didn’t I achieve?” try asking: What did I learn about myself this year? What strength did I discover that I didn’t know I had? What am I grateful for, even if the year wasn’t perfect? Gratitude doesn’t erase the hard part; it helps us see that growth happened, even in quiet ways.

Looking Ahead: Creating Space for Support

As we prepare for a new year, one thing is clear: many women don’t just need motivation; they need conversation, clarity, and safe spaces to be honest. That’s why at Inspire Her Afrika, we are introducing Inspire Her Hour in the New Year, a free, one-hour mentorship consultation created for women who need guidance outside our main mentorship program.

 Our January Edition is especially for mothers. Motherhood is beautiful, but it can also be overwhelming and lonely. Many women are raising children while trying to rediscover themselves, manage guilt, and carry invisible emotional loads. Inspire Her Hour is a gentle pause; a space to talk, to be heard, and to gain clarity. We will be selecting two mothers for an intimate, one-on-one session designed to support them as they step into the New Year.

Registration is now open! Register here: https://bit.ly/IHA-InspireHour

As this year comes to a close, remember this: you may not have done everything you planned. But you did something brave, you kept going. And that counts.

We’d love to hear from you. What is one thing you are grateful for this year?

Share it with us in the comments.

 

Marvelous, for the IHA Team