Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Celebrating accomplishments

The other day I finished the draft of novel I had been working on for a little over two months. I wrote nearly every day and kept going even when it was tough to keep the story together and my ideas flowing. Typing the words The End at the end of a manuscript is a very satisfying feeling, no matter how much revising and editing you are going to have to do later. I allowed myself a moment to really savor the fact that I saw my story through to completion, and then the next day I started a new project.


I think it is incredibly important to allow and encourage yourself to acknowledge accomplishments, from large to small. Finishing a long-delayed task or checking off a major project from your to-do list is satisfying in itself, but reminding yourself that all of your effort resulted in that completion, that you accomplished whatever it was you set out to do, is vital. It creates the feeling that ideas can become reality and is gives you strength as you attempt even more abitious tasks and goals.

The next time you accomplish something, give yourself some kudos!

Call Lelah at 818.269.6671
or email lelah@lelahwithanh.com

3 comments:

  1. I've wanted to re-organize my kitchen cupboards for several months, but it never made it to the top of my list. I received some new bowls for Christmas which were too large to fit in my existing bowl cupboard, so I was forced to do it just so I could make a home for them. In addition to being able to put away my new bowls, I got rid of some items we never use AND I found something I thought I'd owned, but hadn't seen for a long time and thought I must have been mistaken. :-)

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  2. With two little kids constantly demanding my attention, I struggle to feel like I've accomplished anything most days. But at the end of the day, I try to think of all the important things I've done - bathed and clothed my children, fed them, changed their diapers, and shown them the love and attention they need - and then I feel like I've accomplished a lot. Sometimes you need to celebrate the small things.

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  3. I think it's essential to celebrate small accomplishments (though raising children is a pretty humungous one).

    That's why I write stuff like take our the trash on my to do list - so I can feel that jolt of satisfaction when I cross it off. Thanks for commenting, Megan and Janet!

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