44: The Art of Acknowledging Achievements

Celebration is a large part of life, and oftentimes recognition for things accomplished comes naturally, particularly when it comes to those around us. We all celebrate different things and in different ways, but I’ve found that the things that often go unrecognized and uncelebrated are our own personal wins. It’s so easy to say things to ourselves like “it’s just part of life,” or “I’m only doing what needs to be done”. But words like “just” or “only” are words that completely sabotage your successes, and if this sounds like you, I want you to learn to appreciate your victories.

You take back a lot of power when you give yourself the credit. Using language that recognizes your accomplishments appropriately allows you to see how far you’ve come, and to appreciate the work you’ve put in to get there. I want you to avoid minimizing the importance of the things you do every day, whatever those things are for you. Know that the small steps you are taking and the things that may seem like they’re not adding up to much right now are the things that are getting you closer to your goals and dreams. That’s why I think tracking things is such a powerful tool, because it takes away your ability to minimize the distance you’ve come and the actions you’ve taken. If you are down X number of pounds, you are down X number of pounds. There’s no “I’m only halfway there,” because you already made something happen. That’s a huge win, and you did that for yourself! Don’t let your words or your thoughts be the thieves of the joy that should come in celebrating those accomplishments.

For goal-oriented people, it can be particularly hard to slow down and recognize how far you’ve come. You’re always on to the next thing. But it’s important to understand that just because you have another goal doesn't mean this one just gets brushed aside. Metabolic health management is ongoing, and you’re never going to reach the point when you’re done achieving things and have hit all your goals with no more questions or problems. So please take some time to appreciate yourself and your abilities before moving on.

Two things I would like to challenge you to examine about how you address your success are:

Notice your language when talking about your wins - Make sure your words reflect your effort, and don’t minimize to yourself or to anyone else what it has taken to reach this point. Empowering yourself to appreciate the things you do is an important step to overcoming burnout and recognizing your trajectory. 

Think about what else changes when your words and thoughts change - When you allow yourself to appreciate where you’ve come from, your goals become more achievable. Having an accurate picture of what is behind you will encourage you and give you a better idea of what it’s going to take for you to keep moving forward. 

I want you to get to a place where it’s just as natural for you to congratulate yourself for your wins as it is for you to celebrate anyone else for theirs. So practice changing your language and thoughts this week, and see where it takes you. 

Resources:

The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan