Last week I wrote an article on the dark side of gratitude, but really it was on the importance of self appreciation and celebrating ourselves. I want to go a layer deeper this week with the benefits of specifically celebrating small wins.
Big wins are just that, they are big and bold and deserving of our attention. We all dream of the big victories, the moments of triumph that mark a clear line in the sand. But the path to those pinnacles is rarely a straight shot. It's filled with smaller steps, the seemingly insignificant victories that propel us forward.
And if we are waiting for the big wins to celebrate ourselves or feeling we are only deserving of celebration after the big wins, we are missing the very opportunities that allow for those big wins to transpire.
Celebrating small wins can be a powerful tool for maintaining motivation, building confidence, and ultimately achieving greater success. Small wins however, often go unnoticed as if they didn’t happen at all or even worse, we judge them as not enough or even as failures. This can lead us to be blind to our progress until we shift the patterns that keep us from seeing and celebrating our small wins.
I always help my clients notice the smallest of successes they have, because celebrating small wins is so powerful.
Why?.
Boosting Motivation:
When you celebrate small wins, you acknowledge the progress you've made and the effort you've put in. That very recognition releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, which reinforces positive action and increases our motivation. By consistently celebrating small wins, you create a cycle of positive reinforcement that keeps you engaged and driven. One that makes you eager and excited for the next challenge.
Confidence Helping You Build Self-Belief Bud by Bud:
Celebrating small wins is a powerful act of self-validation. It tells you, "Hey, I did that! I am capable!" This consistent reinforcement builds your confidence and self-esteem, making you more likely to believe in your ability to achieve a similar goal again and even to achieve bigger goals. With each accomplishment, you chip away at that voice of doubt, replacing it with the empowering belief that you can make progress.
Gratitude Grows Here: Appreciation for the Journey:
Focusing solely on the final destination can make the journey seem tedious. Celebrating small wins encourages you to appreciate the progress you've made along the way. It cultivates gratitude for the effort you've put in, reminding you that every step counts. This shift in perspective fosters a sense of enjoyment in the process, not just the outcome.
It Support Us To Develop A Growth Mindset Where Every Step is a Lesson and a Success:
Celebrating small wins reinforces the belief that your abilities can be developed over time. Each accomplishment, big or small, is an opportunity to learn and grow. Taking the time to acknowledge these milestones allows you to identify what worked well and what could be improved, setting you up for even greater success down the line. It promotes a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the progress you've made, which can lead to increased happiness and life satisfaction.
Celebrating Small Steps In Practice, A Real World Example:
One of my clients felt triggered in every conversation she had with her mother. Her mother only seemed to focus on her own needs, never taking her daughter into account. My client wanted to set boundaries and she wanted to not feel bad for doing so, and simply to not feel so low after every conversation with her mother. We noticed what went well on the journey and celebrated those moments. She was able to feel happy about making a 5% shift rather than beating herself up for it not being enough. And that celebration as we worked towards that goal lead to her eventually feeling a sense of peace and even pride in how far she had come with every interaction. It was joyous to witness the change.
Sharing your small wins with friends, family, or colleagues can have a ripple effect. Their encouragement and recognition can further boost your motivation. More importantly, it can inspire others to celebrate their own progress, creating a supportive and positive environment where everyone thrives.
So, the next time you accomplish something, no matter how small it may seem, take a moment to acknowledge it. Give yourself a pat on the back, treat yourself to a small reward, or share your accomplishment with someone who cares. These celebrations are more than just feel-good moments; they are the fuel that propels you forward on your journey to success.
If this sounds foreign or you could use support in building the skill let's have a conversation. We’ll create perspective shifts that allow you to reframe what might have seemed like another opportunity to beat yourself up, to explicitly naming the places where you can joyfully celebrate yourself.
Don’t underestimate your small wins. Celebrate them and celebrate you!
If this resonated with you, I'd appreciate if you share it with someone in your life who needs to hear this!
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." - Vincent Van Gogh
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." - Helen Keller
"Greatness comes by doing a few small and smart things each and every day. Comes from taking little steps, consistently. Comes from a making a few small chips against everything in your professional and personal life that is ordinary, so that a day eventually arrives when all that's left is The Extraordinary." - Robin S. Sharma