The Gap: Embracing Exactly Where You Are
Meet Carla, our favorite fictional food blogger. She sets a goal to increase her monthly pageviews by 50,000. She works hard, posts consistently, promotes wisely, and lands at 34,000. Now she’s in the gap.
The gap isn’t just the difference in numbers. It’s the belief that she should have hit 50,000. That she should be farther along. That “not there yet” means “not enough.”
This is where suffering starts.
But it doesn’t have to. The moment you shift from “I should be there” to “I am here, and here is useful,” everything changes. Your blog is no longer a pass/fail scorecard. It’s a dynamic, evolving recipe in progress.
Why the Gap Causes Suffering (and Why It Doesn’t Have To)
When most of us aren’t at our goal, we feel discomfort. We expect to be further along, and that expectation chips away at our peace. But what if the gap is simply a signal that you’re human, learning, evolving, and exactly on track?
You imagine where you “should” be, and when reality doesn’t match, dissatisfaction creeps in. That’s the gap talking. Yet inside that gap, in the slow simmer between now-where and desired-there, lies your next opportunity.
Reframing the Gap: From Suffering to Learning
Tell yourself: You are exactly where you are supposed to be. This is a gentle command that softens resistance. Imagine stirring a dough: it needs time to rise, we don’t force it. Likewise, the gap is your rising time.
As you imagine applying this shift, which post or recipe-project comes to mind? Let your subconscious align your attention there, and the gap begins to feel supportive instead of punitive.
The Food Blog Mindset Recipe for the Gap
Acknowledge the gap with curiosity, not criticism.
Treat it like sous-vide cooking, it’s slow, but precise, and full of flavor.
Ask empowering questions: What can I learn here? Which small step feeds forward?
Let gratitude in: I’m learning; I’m growing; I’m in motion.
Want help applying this to your blog?
Goals Are Moving Targets, And That’s Okay
Think about it: once you hit a goal, your mind naturally sets a new one. So many of us live in a constant state of gap chasing. Learning to be happy in the gap is less about reaching perfection and more about savoring progress, revising strategy, and honoring the journey.
Practicing Presence in the Gap
Create a mini-ritual: pour tea, open your recipe-planner, and reflect on one thing you’ve learned recently.
Celebrate micro-wins: maybe your email list grew by five, or you nailed a new technique.
Invite curiosity: what’s the next small batch of growth you can taste?
As you practice this, which area of your blog would benefit from that gentle pause and appreciation?
Your New Recipe for Success
Ingredients: Your current reality, a desired outcome, curiosity, self-compassion, small actions.
Instructions:
Stir reality with curiosity.
Let the mixture rest with presence.
Bake incremental action with gratitude.
Taste test often: refine your steps, adjust the heat, and keep learning.
Final Thought
You aren’t behind, you're on the culture of continuous craftsmanship. The gap isn’t a flaw, it’s your invitation to grow, inside your own rhythm and flavor.
Ready to create your recipe for success?
Book your free consultation here!
Mini FAQ to Boost SEO
Q: What is “the gap” in goal-setting?
A: “The gap” is the mental space between where you think you should be and where you actually are, a natural part of any growth journey.
Q: Why am I unhappy in the gap?
A: Because your mind expects progress to be faster or more visible, which creates tension. Yet that tension is simply a clue to shift how you relate to the gap.
Q: How can I be happy and productive even when not at my goal?
A: By cultivating curiosity, celebrating micro-wins, practicing presence, and treating the gap as a learning zone.
