Celebrating progress is difficult. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but like many others, I am terrible at celebrating wins. My instinct is to just keep pushing forward to the next thing because solving problems and overcoming challenges is what I love to do. I also don’t like sitting still. I know many of you can relate to this. However, ironically, I have found the thing that helps most to keep me going when I am bumping up against a challenge, where progress seems slow, is to stop for a minute and zoom out.
I strongly believe in the value of gratitude and reflection, but I don’t often apply that to a particular goal or problem I am working on. Meaning, I am generally very thankful for my supportive family, my friends, my health, my job, etc. and understand how all of that has benefited me in life. However, when I am in the middle of working on something challenging that is going to take a lot of time, I don’t often stop to reflect on my progress. I have started to think about this differently lately and have seen what a drastic positive impact it has made on my motivation to take a different perspective.
Zoom Out
Picture yourself hiking up a mountain. You have been hiking for a while and it is strenuous. As you are climbing and look ahead you still have a long way to go and the trail is steep. You are not sure you want to keep going. Now, stop and look back where you started on the trail. It is so far back you can’t see the starting point, but you now have an amazing view of the valley you started in and you have climbed way higher than you realized.
See what I mean? Zooming out and changing your perspective on your journey tells a whole different story. Instead of focusing on how much still lies ahead and how overwhelming the challenge feels you can see all of the progress that you have made and all of the support you’ve had along the way. This changes my mindset almost immediately. It gives me confidence to overcome the challenges ahead and reminds me that I am not alone on the journey.
Gratitude and Reflection in Practice
Interested in giving it a shot, but not sure how to do it? Here are a few ideas to get you started. The most important thing is to do what feels right to you:
- Listing your achievements: Write down your milestones, completed projects, and personal growth points. Reflect on the challenges you overcame and the lessons you learned.
- Expressing gratitude: Reach out to anyone who contributed to your success. Express your appreciation for their support and the positive impact they’ve had on your journey.
- Celebrating wins: Plan a celebration, whether it’s a team outing, or simply treating yourself. Recognize your hard work and the progress you’ve made.
- Daily gratitude journaling: Take a few moments each day to reflect on and write down things you’re grateful for. This practice helps foster a positive mindset and appreciation for the present.
One Small Step
What is one thing you are in the middle of right now that seems a bit overwhelming? We all have something. Just take a few moments to zoom out. Where did you start your journey? What progress have you made? Who was there to help you along the way?