Accomplishment. This feeling often eludes us. Maybe it’s just a matter of recognizing when we have achieved something.
Many years ago, I studied the theory of “Laws Of Attraction”. These days, it has been popularized in a #1 selling book titled, “The Secret“. The theory is that our thoughts create our lives. Many athletes and other highly successful people will tell you that they spend a great deal of time learning to envision the “achievement”. Until they can see no other path except to win.
We all have heard about this type of self-talk. But there’s another type of thinking that intrigued me. Teaching yourself to recognize the wins you already have. Isn’t it surprising when someone you think has everything going for them continues to complain and believe they aren’t having a great life? Obviously, they aren’t operating on positive thinking, and yet, they are still having good things happen in their lives even if they don’t seem to be aware of it.
The lesson I learned, was to recognize “wins”. No matter how small. Before going to sleep each night, I write down 10 things that were wins for the day. Maybe a good parking space. Maybe a nice conversation with someone at work. It doesn’t matter. Maybe I can only think of 5. That’s OK. The point is to change my perspective about my life. Little by little, I found myself becoming more satisfied and happier and in control of my life. This new energy gives me confidence to push aside the doubts and fears and take on new things.
When I implement this routine, I find it becomes habitual to get excited about new adventures again. Which is what makes me happiest! Instead of thinking of all the reasons why I can’t make an adventure happen, I have the energy and clear head to figure out some way to do some part of what I want to do and schedule it.
Obviously, this is a process. It’s easy to get so busy with work, family, bills, etc., and stop writing down the wins. Quickly slipping back into a funk. The cool thing is that I remember what to do eventually when this happens. Start writing down the “wins” again. Start planning adventures. And think of ways to make them happen, even if its only a small version of it.