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Sunday, January 6, 2008

Celebrate Successes and Succeed

Snow is an opportunity.

If you celebrate a success-truly celebrate it, not just acknowledge it, but embrace that you have accomplished something, anything, it creates more success. Think about it. When you dwell on what you haven't done and only give a nod to what you have done, what happens to your energy? Your focus? Your determination? Doesn't your energy drain away, your focus disappear and your determination weaken?

So, readers, this week what is a success you can celebrate? It can be as small as "I got out of bed today" or even "I stayed in bed all day so I could rest and rejuvenate" to "I finished my two-year project today" or even bigger. Huge or tiny, celebrate. You've succeeded and will do so again.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

That ties into one of my soapboxes, Conda. That everything is a choice. You choose to get up in the morning - stay in a bad marriage - change jobs - write a novel. Accept that you have choices, and celebrate every choice you make as something truly yours. Then, like you say, you can see what you've accomplished, instead of feeling like life is just dragging you along with it.

Great post! Although the snow being an opportunity thing...you know how I feel about that. :-)

katiebird said...

Hi Conda!

This is a WONDERFUL post. Me? I'm about to "Graduate" -- I've worked in the same public retirement system for 31 years. And I can retire in April (if I want)

Whether I actually do it or not -- to me it's a miraculous accomplishment to have the opportunity.

Conda Douglas said...

You're so right Beth, so much of everything is our own choice. And of course, snow is an opportunity for a photo, too (and lots of my friends are avid skiers, perhaps in self-defense against SAD).

And katiebird, thanks for the compliment on this entry and CONGRATULATIONS on your great achievement (whether you retire or not). Commitment is also a choice and shows a strength as well.

katiebird said...

But sometimes it's really, really hard! :)

The Muse said...

I'm celebrating that I actually got on the computer today!

Nancy P said...

I like this idea and I believe it. Unfortunately, I'm not terribly good at celebrating my stuff. I'm okay at it, but not great. I am seriously going to think of something today. Oh! I know just what! I'll even announce it tomorrow, or soon, anyway.

Thanks, Conda.

Conda Douglas said...

Looking forward to your celebration, Nancy. And Muse, your celebration is an example of a small thing, good work.

This is a lot like practicing gratitude. A lot of people have trouble coming up with anything at first and then improve as they go along and realize how celebration impacts their mood, creativity and creative output.

Larry Kollar said...

Oh yeahhhh. When you dwell on what you haven't done and only give a nod to what you have done, what happens to your energy?

Or when others do that to you? It seemed like my parents would rather get waterboarded than say "good job" to any of us. But we'd hear about any mistake, in detail. You quickly learn to put forth the absolute minimum effort in a situation like that, because you know that more effort won't change the results.

I'm about 10 minutes from celebrating putting my day-job's main project into the approval tool. I will celebrate by getting outta this office while there's still some daylight left!

Conda Douglas said...

Hey far, you got the day job done for today, good for you!

And I think we may have had the same parents...whenever I achieved something big my mom would say, "Of course, that's because you're a member of our family." But if I came home with a B+ instead of A: "What happened, dear? You're just applying yourself..." etc.

And you're right, if you're successes aren't celebrated, why are working so hard to achieve them? Yes, enjoy the journey, but enjoy the results too! Don't lose a lot of weight and wear your old clothes!

Conda Douglas said...

Obviously I'm passionate about this. And I meant to say "not applying yourself".

katiebird said...

I think that 'celebrating success' thing works on the job too -- not just in families.

At least it makes work more enjoyable...

Conda Douglas said...

Good point, katiebird. Good salesman know this well. They celebrate all the time and this allows them to keep hearing the "no's" inherent in selling...works for writer's rejections, too!