Let's all try to exhale before the new year.
Your growth deserves to be felt, not brushed past.
Hello everyone! This is the first official weekly newsletter sent via Steady Sunday’s new home, Substack. I’ve decided to start each newsletter with a little anecdote from yours truly, so here’s todays:
In total honesty, work has been crazy lately (I’m sure many of you can relate!), and Steady Sunday began to feel more like a chore than a space to breathe. But moving SS to Substack and making this community free again has breathed new life into it, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead!
I also want to give a huge shoutout to our Tuesday host, Annie, who helps me write these newsletters each week! She is such a light in this community and I truly couldn’t do it without her <3
— Steph
P.S. We’re still playing around with the format of these newsletters, so bear with us as we get settled.
💻 This Week’s Meetings
Sunday, 12/21 — 10-11 a.m. PT / 1-2 p.m. ET
Tuesday, 12/23 — 5:30-6:30 p.m. PT / 8:30-9:30 p.m. ET
PSA: We do not have a meeting on Thursday, 12/25. Merry Christmas!
Meeting links are sent in our Discord chat:
✨ Meeting Notes
We had a Topic-Focused Meeting last week where we chatted about our end-of-year reflections and what we want to bring into the new year (my heart was so full after this meeting!). ICYMI, here’s what some of you said:
What was your biggest win or accomplishment this year?
“I got a promotion!”
“Running a half marathon!”
“I got over my fear of flying (thanks to my pilot boyfriend).”
“I got married!”
“Tomorrow I’m one year sober!”
“I started my business this year :)”
What was a challenge you worked through this year? What did it teach you?
“I struggled this year being there for friends that were going through a hard time, but put my own needs on the back burner as a result. I learned that it’s important to fill my cup first in order to be the best friend I can be.”
“I was overprescribed mental health medication, so this was the year of weaning off and going through withdrawals. I had to take time off work and struggled with feeling like I wasn’t contributing to society, but that time gave me the space to reflect and realize I wanted to switch careers!”
“My wife had a medical emergency. At first I tried to proceed with life/work as normal, but I learned I can’t and shouldn’t just keep going when things are hard - and that’s ok.”
For many of us, self-criticism feels like our default setting. When we notice behaviors or patterns we don’t like, we often turn to shame, believing we need to be harsh with ourselves to create real change. That inner critic can be loud and unforgiving, but one of the most important lessons of recovery is that shame isn’t a sustainable motivator and often keeps us stuck. Shifting from shame to self-compassion doesn’t just support sobriety; it’s a mindset that helps us grow in every area of life.
As the year comes to a close and we reflect on what went well for us and what didn’t, it’s important not only to acknowledge our wins, but to really let ourselves feel proud of them. Growth deserves to be felt, not brushed past. Here are some affirmations you can try as you reflect on the year you’ve had:
I allow myself to feel proud of how far I’ve come, even if I’ve made mistakes along the way.
I honor my growth, including the lessons that came from the hard moments.
I am grateful for the strength it took to keep showing up this year.
I can hold pride and humility at the same time.
I deserve to celebrate myself without minimizing my progress.
This week, we talked about how friendships should make us feel good (even though we sometimes forget that). Many of us have struggled with friendships that feel draining, one-sided, or unsupportive, and the cons of staying friends outweigh any pros. The truth is, you shouldn’t have to work so hard to find the good in a friend. The friendships you deserve should feel supportive, mutual, and far more positive than negative. Remember: quality > quantity, and the right people will find you. ❤️
✨ Win of the Week
L.O. is bravely changing career paths and going back to school to follow her dream of becoming a mental health counselor! So proud of you!
✍️ Journal Prompt
In case you missed our annual Reflections & Intentions meeting, here are the prompts we worked through:
What was your biggest win this year?
What was your biggest challenge this year? What did it teach you?
Who/what made you the happiest this year?
What do you want more of in 2026? What do you want less of?
Where would you like to be this time next year?
What’s one word you want your 2026 to embody?
That’s all for today. I hope this holiday season is bringing you all more joy than stress <3 Hopefully see you in a meeting this week, but if not, we’re sending you lots of love!
ily Steph 💘💘
Love this so much!!