3 reasons it’s good to celebrate little wins and focus on what matters

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

– Buddah

Welcome back to my dedicated readers, and a big Aussie G’day to those newcomers that have landed here through Facebook and Twitter.

How has your week been?

It’s been a huge week for me. So much has happened it puts my head into a spin.

I’ve made real progress in selling my property (which I touched on in my post about regret), I made big progress toward my new project (more info soon), and I may have landed a casual job in a coffee shop.

Things are in my favour. Life looks great, right?

Looks can be deceiving.

It’s strange how the human mind works. So many things that I have been dreaming of happening I find are coming to action, and I’m not happy, I’m not elated, I’m not celebrating.

I’m focusing on the struggles ahead, the work still to be done, the long, windy road.

I’m focusing on the challenges in a negative way.

It affected me so much, I just had to share it with you.

This post is a fix of positivity for your day. I want to highlight how the weeks’ important life developments have caused me to be overcome with negativity, my top reasons that celebrating little wins in times like this is so valuable, and how the process has allowed me to end the week on an awesome high! Hopefully there are some great tips you can take on board for your benefit.

Let’s get stuck into some good vibrations, shall we?


Big changes, and how focus on my challenges disrupted my week

Big changes for me are afoot.

In life there comes a time when the powers that be just seem to throw nothing but curve-balls at you, and then there are times when it’s a streak of home runs on your behalf!

That’s the thing. Life is full of personal wins (positive experiences), and frustrating challenges (negative).

I’m sure you can relate.

This week I had a number of life changing events that occurred for me. The thing is, I upon learning of the news, I quickly found ways to turn these ‘little wins’ into ‘oh no, more effort’ thoughts very quickly.

The negative mindset I created was anything but productive.

Here’s the main emotions I experienced.

  • I felt overwhelmed – Action, action, action! After so long pushing for and awaiting an outcome, all I could recognise at the time I received good news was that there was so much more work to do! Momentum was gaining, and it was now time to initiate the next phase. This meant work, and time.
  • I was depressed – So, times are a changing, mostly for the better, but what about all the hardship and sacrifice to get to this point? I found myself surrounded by the disruptive feelings of regret – regret for the choices I made, the actions I took, the people I’d hurt. It was depressing.
  • There was anxiety too – I rode through the feelings of overwhelmed, only to be faced with anxiety. Mental to do lists, fear of the unknown, pressure to perform, expectations to use my golden opportunity to charge forward to my dreams. So much expectation to perform, it fuelled toxic anxious feelings, disrupting my sleep and mental clarity. 

This is just part of my experience with the challenges I faced. These were a very powerful driver of my emotional state, until my girlfriend stopped my in my tracks, and pointed out that life wasn’t bad, I had achieved a lot, and that I was making incremental progress towards my dreams.

She was right, and It got me thinking differently.

It got me thinking of celebration!


Celebrating wins – 3 reasons it’s good to party

1.  Increase your sense of control over what’s important in your life

So, you just kicked a goal.

Great!

Celebrate these incremental steps that you have overcome. It highlights that for all your effort, planning, and persistence, you are the master of your domain.

You are in control of your destiny.

So you left the toilet seat up and you got spanked? Does it really matter? Probably not.

Focus on what matters in your life, and how you are dominating that area. When you focus on what you are achieving, no matter how small, you gain a sense of control and authority which is extremely empowering.

2.  It gives you positive motivation to push forward

You’re running a marathon and you’ve passed the 21km mark (half way). It’s a huge mental challenge, and you find yourself overwhelmed with thoughts of the craziness that your enthusiasm 5 months ago has led to!

Do you decide to a) focus on what’s still to go; or b) celebrate the pavement you’ve just dominated?

Hint: the right answer is b)!

You’ve just completed a half marathon, something most people in the world would never dream of doing! And, you’re still going! Might as well finish the job!

Celebrate the small achievements along the road to you dreams.

There’s lots of distance to cover, and it will seem worthwhile and motivating if you take time to put achievements into perspective.

3.  Reinforce your self worth and nurture your ego

When did thinking negatively and focusing on challenges ahead make you feel like you were a better, stronger, smarter person?

Chances are, never.

It’s important to recognise the good times during your journey and add them to your arsenal of awesomeness.

You can do great, you can achieve. Your only limit, is to what you believe.

This doesn’t mean you need to go overboard and let the whole world know (although, do that if it works for you!). Celebrate your efforts, your result, your achievement.

Celebrate for you.

Doing this will build a better self image to those around you, and will reinforce positive thoughts and behaviours.

TIP: Affirmations can be a great way to actively reinforce your small wins.


 

There’s a party at the end of my week, and I’m invited!

How did I transform my overwhelming, daunting start to the week?

I found my focus by looking at what matters most.

If you find yourself in a similar situation in life – faced with daunting life changes that only seem to create more negative challenges – remember the following 3 reasons to celebrate:

  1. Increase your awareness to the control you have over your thoughts
  2. Recognise wins that led you, and will provide motivation going forward; and
  3. Practice positive reinforcement of these wins to help be a more positive force!

I’m sure you’ll undergo a transformation that will prove a force to be reckoned with.

I know I did 🙂


I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media using the buttons below.

The more people I can help, the happier I’ll be.

Here’s to being your best self!

Jason

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