Celebrate Small Wins

Two weeks and the scale has not budged. What am I doing wrong?

Hey wait a second! What am I doing RIGHT? My pants are looser. I have more energy. I work out just about every day. The family has begun to eat better and be more active – with only a little push back from the boys! I am eating healthier including smaller portions. This is all good!

Too often, we are quick to judge – especially ourselves. We look at those things that have not changed or the things we have not yet done and we put ourselves down, beat ourselves up and stress out.

This feels bad!

If we assume that we are giving life our all, then why be so judgmental and mean to ourselves? If you do your best, then find ways to congratulate yourself. For example, you skipped a meeting because you decided your project or workload required your attention. Celebrate! Don’t beat yourself up or ‘should’ yourself (“I should have gone to the meeting…”)

Each day you make choices about your time and your behavior. If you are trying to change your behavior, eliminate overwhelm or change habits, then look for what you do well. Look for and celebrate all of the little choices you make during your day that coincide and support your efforts to change.

• Like when you say ‘no’ to another project or overtime.
• Or when you stand up to a bully.
• When you are more directive to your kids.
• When you listen more closely to your spouse.
• When you make a choice to take some time for yourself by going to the salon or getting a massage.

These are all successes!

We become what we think about all day long.

Beat yourself up, put yourself down for how badly you are performing, and guess what? You’ll stop trying to make changes because you will be talking yourself out of it – sabotaging your efforts and minimizing your chance for success.

If, instead, you focus on and acknowledge the little things you do that support your vision for success – your health, happiness, work/life balance – you will see how much you are doing to move you closer to your dream, closer to living life the way you want. The results are coming, things are changing – change happens slowly.

The more you notice; the more you will want to continue! You will being to see that it is working! You are doing it! And you will seek out ways to do more.

Too often we look only for the outcome rather than focusing on the process. But it is the process that matters most. It is the process that you have control of. Focus your efforts on the steps you take each day and pat yourself on the back when you do them.

For me, the scale is only measure. Am I working out more regularly? Am I getting stronger? Are my clothes looser? Am I losing inches and perhaps gaining muscle? Do I have more energy, more endurance? Am I eating healthier than last week? Where AM I improving?

Focus on what you do to move you toward your vision for change – acknowledge your efforts and this will motivate you to continue. Keep your vision for success in the forefront of your thoughts to remind you of what you are working toward and what you value.

And keep taking those baby steps. I’m going to go work out now.

Your partner for change,

Coach Julie, RN ~ Nurturing Your Success