“Success is a series of small wins.” – John C. Maxwell
Oftentimes in life, we can get consumed by our long-term goals, ambitions and objectives. We want to run a marathon, get promoted or lose a bunch of weight, but aren’t quite sure how to get started. The fear of the unknown might leave us feeling anxious, uneasy or overwhelmed.
Last month, my dad underwent 2 separate hip replacement surgeries. While the recovery has been grueling, he energetically phoned me last week to happily tell me he was finally able to put on his socks and touch his toes. While this might not seem like much, his ability to celebrate these small wins serves to enhance and even speed up his recovery time. Rather than getting overwhelmed or discouraged by the physical therapy twice a week, the struggle to get out of bed in the morning or his eventual return to work, he chooses to celebrate what is going right. By doing this, he is able to boost his mood, evoke positive energy in his life and recover quicker.
Many in our society (myself included) tend to be forward thinking individuals. This is how we are wired. We are constantly searching for the next achievement, the next raise, the next vacation, the next big thing! But by permitting our minds to live in the future, we rob ourselves of the present. We quite literally siphon our present moment energy into the future (or the past). As a result, we aren’t ever fully satisfied. Many of us achieve goal after goal after goal without taking a few moments to be still and celebrate the achievement of those goals. And if we don’t celebrate these small wins on a regular basis, we might find it difficult to cultivate gratitude, acceptance, and fulfillment for the life we live.
Small wins can come in the form of not hitting the snooze button, practicing patience, being kind to yourself, exercising, eating healthy, or anything that involves taking care of your body, soul or mind. By celebrating your small wins on a daily basis, you build the positive momentum required to sustain a positive outlook on life and to achieve your long-term goals.
It is vital that we “slow down and smell the roses.” Appreciate how far you have come in this life! Seriously, take a moment to reflect on all of your accomplishments over your lifetime… Let gratitude for these achievements fill your heart. If nobody has told you this yet today: you are capable, you are enough, you are perfect exactly as you are.
Enjoy what comes of today, friends!
