Celebrate Progress No Matter How Small
Progress rarely happens in big flashy fireworks moments. It’s usually made in tiny incremental steps that are often subtle and unremarkable. But putting all those tiny wins together can show extraordinary growth and accomplishment. If you don’t take note, you might miss the fireworks altogether.
There are benefits to applauding those small steps. First and foremost, it triggers a release of dopamine in your brain. Dopamine can affect your mood and motivation. So naturally, if you do something that makes you feel more positive, it will inspire you to do more.
But here’s the thing, perhaps even more valuable is that it makes the goals you set seem more attainable. That new level of confidence can be exciting and drive you to set the bar even higher.
We often hear our Therapists and Skills Coaches talk about the importance of helping their patients see the progress they are making by pointing out their mini accomplishments and celebrating with them. A Skills Coach working with a child in the classroom to help them focus and learn social cues might reward something as simple as making good eye contact or staying on task for a set time. A therapist might cheer an adult patient who is avoiding the dentist due to anxiety when they take that first step and make an appointment. Would those patients have seen those as accomplishments to celebrate? Not likely, but once they start acknowledging the tiny wins, it helps them focus on what they can do, rather than what they can’t.
How you celebrate doesn’t have to mean cake and confetti. It can be as simple as sharing the good news with a friend or taking a short break and listening to your favorite song. Some may benefit from seeing a visual representation of their progress by charting each win or writing about it in a notebook.
You may be tuned in to the progress of others and quick to congratulate them, but the bottom line is, you are allowed to recognize your own accomplishments no matter how small and treat yourself with the respect you deserve. So, take a bow. Blow your own horn. That can set you up for even more victories in the future.
Share this blog!