How do you feel when you hit a goal? Maybe your goal weight? Maybe you ran a marathon? Maybe you hit your sales goals? Whatever it was, do you remember how you felt? The excitement of achieving something you have been working for – were you giddy with happiness, or are you like me and cry tears of joy?
Now, how did you feel working towards the goal? Frustrated? Overwhelmed?
May is full of celebrations – my birthday, my 10th wedding anniversary and God willing, my 3rd year in recovery. May is the end of the ThirtyOne fiscal year and I have already hit my HIGHEST year in personal sales since I started with the company. With all of these exciting things, you would think it would be easy for me to stay positive, right? The truth is I struggle with staying positive.
So many of us work hard in pursuit of big bold goals – because it feels so good when we make them happen, right? The truth is BIG wins don’t happen every day. Sometimes not even every month, quarter, or year. Sometimes big dreamy goals take time, patience, and a whole lot of devotion to make happen. And it’s okay, it’s how it’s supposed to be.
But are we supposed to defer our happiness, our joy, and our contentment until those BIG dreams happen? How many of you actually celebrate or give yourself credit for the baby steps you made on the way to your BIG goal?
Most of us (me included) forget to feel proud of ourselves in the here and now – in the moment BEFORE we reach the big goal. It is important for us to allow ourselves to enjoy the moment. We can make ourselves crazy if we continue to defer our happiness until some day in the future when we make those big dreams happen.
So what if we started to obsess over our little wins instead of the big ones? What if we reconnected with the things which truly matter most in my life – the present, the here and now. When we show up each day for our work and our life while taking care of ourself, our family, and our business – these are the things which truly matter most. The big wins are then the icing on the cake. The little wins are the ones which truly shape and define a well lived successful life. One of my biggest struggles in recovery (combined with the MS) is living in the moment.
What do some of your little wins look like? Do any of these look like yours?
I paid my bills this month on time and am reducing my debt. That’s awesome.
One of my favorite customer/hostess wants to host another party. That’s amazing.
I got 6 hours of sleep a few nights this week! Go me.
I gave myself time and space to read an incredible book this month. Woo hoo!
I created and shared original posts on social media this month I’m proud of. I sure did.
I embraced guilt-free rest this week whenever I needed it. Yes!
I didn’t beat myself up with I made a mistake. Yes!
I rode my stationary bike 3 times this week. Yes!
Do any of these sound like baby steps you took?
Maybe you got up, showered & dressed at least twice this week? Maybe you you reached out when you were struggling?
So, what happens when you think about the little steps you took this week? Were you energized, excited, and aligned?
Believe it or not, when you are focused on the little wins, you are less attached to the outcome. You can feel proud of the hard work and devotion it took to make the BIG dreams happen without diminishing what it took to make the little, everyday wins happen too.
I’m challenging you to obsess about your little wins instead of the big ones.
What are five things you’re really proud of this week? No matter what they are, embrace the positive feelings about the little wins. Enjoy the feelings as you celebrate showing up each day and giving your life everything you’ve got. Because it’s what really matters in the end.
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 