Celebrating Wins

I just wanted to clarify something from yesterday. I am not against celebrating victories. In fact, as emotional beings, we generally accomplish more when we break a large goal down into smaller pieces and celebrate the small wins along the way. But that celebration should be an event – a moment in time – and not a new pace of life.

Think of it like Christmas. The spirit of the holiday – the gratitude and appreciation for the gifts and blessings in your life – should remain with you throughout the year, just as the recognition of your goal’s achievement should trigger an attitude of thankfulness and joy. But the celebration is just a season, it’s not a way of life. You can only wear so many obnoxious sweaters while drinking eggnog and experiencing awkward conversation with your Crazy Aunt Ethel during the Christmas Dinner. Yes, it’s fun and festive (but sometimes a little uncomfortable while Ethel talks about her cats and asks you why you aren’t wearing the sweater she knit you last year out of the cat hair she’d saved up), but you must ultimately get back to “normal life.”

Celebrating achievement is important, but it should be a season, not a lifestyle and certainly not an excuse to “ease up.”. You can and should look back often, maybe daily, and remember those seasons with gratitude, yet still press on. Those “wins” should initiate a new chapter in your life, not create a finish line. Celebrate your victories, but then get back to work.

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