Celebrate Success and Pass it On

Have you ever found yourself working so hard to reach a goal that you once felt excitement about but that you now feel exhausted by?

Often when we set out to achieve something within a year or longer, we need to have “check-ins” with ourselves. It is too easy to keep working hard at our goal and forget to assess how far we have come since we began the journey. There is a good reason coaches like myself and others suggest measuring success at multiple points along the way rather than waiting until the end. It’s not so you can simply feel good about yourself (although that is likely and wonderful), but it is to see what progress has been made toward an end goal and be empowered to make adjustments if needed. I like to feel good and celebrate my successes along the way to my ultimate goal.

I started writing a book earlier this year and decided to shift my priorities and take a break from it. My new commitment is to complete it in October 2012. Rather than focusing on that huge goal, I have created milestones along the way to guide me to completion. As an example, one of my milestones is to complete a full rough draft of the book by mid June. And you bet I have decided what my reward will be! Although the book will not be complete and published at that point, writing a complete draft is a big accomplishment and one that I believe is worthy to celebrate.

What have you set out to achieve, contribute or experience in 2012? How can you break it into smaller chunks so you can measure your progress along the way and take moments to celebrate?

Celebrating success is key to building upon that success. Likewise sharing your accomplishments is also important.
Sharing your success with others is good for the soul- yours and theirs. How?

It helps you to take hold of your results and efforts- I have a natural tendency to move on to the next thing to keep improving; when I celebrate my milestones and share success with another person it solidifies it for me and helps me to savor that life experience in my mind and heart. Think of when you “high-five” someone. That is when the inward feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction is demonstrated outwardly. There is something about that simple act that helps to confirm that something is good.

It inspires others- When we share our success with others it inspires them. Don’t think your success isn’t anything special. Just because someone else you know had already achieved the milestone or has done “waaay more” than you have, does not mean that someone else would not be encouraged by you. Get over yourself. You have something meaningful to offer others and I guarantee you there’s at least one other human being who looks up to you the way you do to your mentors or people by whom you are inspired.

I was recently inspired by someone in my family to start running again after almost 3 years of excuses after a knee injury. She has never been a runner or avid exerciser, and when she began exercising regularly and running she celebrated through social media posts- it was just the fire I needed under my rear to get going! Even though I have enjoyed various forms of exercise and have run several races she inspired me, and I am grateful.

Simple ways to celebrate and share your success:

1. High five someone (ha! You knew that was coming)
2. Tell about your success to someone who loves and supports you
3. Take a moment and feel really good about it deep in your soul
4. Thank God for the experience
5. Write a thank you note to someone who was a big influence in helping you succeed
6. Do your own version of the happy dance
7. Give yourself a reward- something that you enjoy without guilt or stress
8. Post about the good news on social media or your blog
9. Start a collection of success stories in a journal to share in your own future book
10. Throw a party