We are all grateful because we have a roof over our heads and food when we feel hungry, but at the same time, we are back to the days before the pandemic.
Some of us feel sad because of the change in normal life and the loss of loved ones, in addition to the constant anxiety about the future.
A glimmer of hope is the only incentive left in the lives of many of us. It may sound counterintuitive, but it turns out that celebrating small successes has a potent effect.
The importance of small successes
“Progress towards our goals increases our happiness and satisfaction with life,” Professor Timothy A. Pychyl writes . This is important because when you notice the main stations during your life's journey, you do not delay achieving your goal.
Rather, these brief moments of happiness keep you motivated to keep working towards it, and you can see this in all aspects of your life. Whether it is losing weight or expanding your company, seeing progress encourages you to keep making an effort.
It also boosts confidence. As Dr. Jim Taylor says: “Confidence is very important because you may have the ability to perform well, but if you don't believe you have this ability, you won't invest in it. For example, a gymnast may be physically and technically capable of performing a complex move, but he won't try it unless he has confidence in his ability to perform it successfully."
Of course, a gymnast must train in order to be able to perform this type of movement because no one is born skilled. They must train properly to increase their physical strength and flexibility, in addition to acquiring the appropriate technical skills.
All this takes a long time and requires hard work, but soon the player will notice even the slightest sign that he is starting to learn the movement, his self-criticism will stop, and his confidence in his skills and abilities will increase.
Eight ways to celebrate small successes
Here are eight ways to celebrate small successes and encourage yourself to keep working toward the ultimate goal:
1. Journaling
"Journaling isn't just for emotional teens," writes Rob Smith, a researcher at The Audacious Project. "In fact, you can keep a journal to stimulate your personal growth by using it to record your successes."
Teresa Amabile, a professor at the Harvard Business School, also supports the idea of journaling to track progress. Teacher and speaker Mehrnaz Bassiri says: “It helps us think about our days and keeping track of all those little accomplishments that usually go unnoticed. It helps us discover and celebrate our small successes even during the frustrating days when we think we haven't accomplished anything and helps us overcome difficulties and identify weaknesses that we must work on strengthening.”
2. Share successes
We enjoy trips more when someone else accompanies us, and the same goes for successes. So, tell others how you feel and share your happiness with them. Even if you don't realize it, your enthusiasm will pass on to them, too.
Studies have found that when professional soccer players achieve higher positions in the rankings, the overall team statistics are better. While this is reserved for teamwork situations, as an alternative option you can create a group on social media applications of friends, family or co-workers where you can congratulate each other, and this will be an excellent external incentive.
3. Reward yourself
You can reward yourself for your achievements regardless of their size. For example, maybe you liked a piece of clothing that you saw in a local store, then hold off buying it until you deserve it and reward yourself for that then.
Of course, the reward does not need to be material, as it may be as simple as ordering food and watching a series you love, listening to your favorite song, turning off your phone and taking a shower, or reading a new book.
Another idea is to invest in yourself. For example, you can enroll in an online course to improve your skills, or deposit some money into a savings account for an emergency or your retirement.
4. Repeating motivational phrases
“Every time I achieve a small milestone, I say to myself, 'I've done more now than I did 10 minutes ago,'" says executive assistant Kaleen Skersies.
Take a deep breath and move on to the next task or project that requires my attention, and by the end of the day, I feel like I've hit multiple successes on my way to the bigger goal.
5. Keep a box of hits
You can make a small success box for yourself. The idea is very simple: Write down each small success you achieve on a small piece of paper, and then put it in the box.
This may sound a little cliché, but it's effective as a way to track your progress or as an always-on way to remind you of what you've accomplished.
6. Expressing gratitude
You may work alone and you may be solely responsible for your accomplishments, but someone helped you through your journey without a doubt.
So, take a moment and think about who helped you achieve your successes; maybe it was your partner who encouraged you, a mentor who mentored you, or a co-worker who shared important information with you, so thank them and send them a handwritten card, or a small gift they will love.
7. Leave free time in your calendar
We don't mean leaving your calendar completely blank. While there are some benefits to letting things take their course, it can lead to adrift. Filling your calendar makes it easier to plan your week and avoid scheduling conflicts.
In the morning, you can leave your calendar blank in the afternoon to spend that free time as you like; you deserve a break from work and perpetual busyness.
8. Change the way you think
Therapist and speaker Kevin Fu writes, "It's our natural human instinct to spend a great deal of our focus and mental energy on things that didn't go right or on things we can't control. Avoid pain in the future, but you must realize that failures are inevitable, and with continued effort, positive progress is also inevitable.”
As the inventor Thomas Edison said: “I have not failed; I have found 10,000 ways that did not work.”
In Fu's opinion, Edison was getting things right: "He seems to have found a way to celebrate even the failures in life." He says: "It takes effort to get rid of negative thoughts and focus on the good things in life."
Focusing on small successes helps. "When you develop this positivity, you will be better able to make progress toward your goals, and this may be one of the keys to true happiness," Fu add.
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