“The signs of our ‘success’ are constantly changing. If we don’t pay attention, we may miss the opportunity to really enjoy our victories.”
Last year, I had a conversation with a friend that left a lasting impression on me. We talked about how, when it comes to our ambitions, we tend to change our goals and how easy it is to lose sight of the satisfaction that comes from actually achieving them.
The same is true of life milestones. The goals we set for ourselves seem to change frequently. If we’re not careful, we can end up missing every opportunity to celebrate.
The same is true of work. Have you ever set goals for yourself only to rush to celebrate immediately after reaching them? It’s easy to get so caught up in the joy of achieving our goals that we don’t have time to appreciate our accomplishments.
But if you don’t celebrate, then who will? When are you going to be proud of all your hard work and accomplishments?
I realized that this was one of my shortcomings. So, I decided to rethink how I celebrate success. Instead of waiting until my goals were fully realized, I started a new tradition: the “early celebration.”
“I choose to celebrate the process, not just the end.”
Instead of waiting until the dust settles, I prefer to start celebrating before the big moments arrive. For example, if I have an important collaboration or goal coming up, I’ll start celebrating days or even weeks in advance.
This mindset also relates to creative imagination. If you’ve already experienced the joy and pride of realizing your dreams and goals, you’re more likely to achieve them.
I found that by focusing on the whole process rather than just the end result, I began to really recognize and appreciate my progress. I no longer let my accomplishments go unnoticed.
I also like the idea of self-reward that Mel shared, which emphasizes the importance of giving recognition for a job well done. Celebrating your efforts is a great way to motivate yourself to keep going.
But here’s the thing …… you don’t always need to celebrate a huge milestone. Some days may not be “big” enough to celebrate, but you should still recognize your hard work.
So here’s my advice: celebrate no matter what. Celebrate your hard work and dedication. You definitely deserve a reward!
If you’re interested in learning more about self-reward and motivation, then Maximizing Your Potential may be helpful to you.
What about you? I’d love to hear how you celebrate your accomplishments. Have you practiced Celebrate Early? What are some ways you treat yourself when you achieve your goals?
Lots of love.
Zera.