Celebrating ALL Your Wins

Are you diminishing your achievements?

Sep 07, 2024

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about celebrating wins. Maybe we’ve achieved big, bold goals. Or perhaps some mini milestones on our own unique journeys.

Substack is a great community for this. I see small celebrations posted on my Notes feed every day. New subscribers, creators making connections, books published.

Substackers freely share their successes (and their valuable lessons in getting there) in a way that feels kind and generous.

Not the shouty “look at me, I’m doing so much better than you” vibe that you sometimes get with social media or online marketing.

Hi, I’m Holly - coach, mindfulness facilitator and author of Zestful Zen. I write about self-care, change, personal growth, mindfulness, and purpose. If you like life to be full of zest and energy, complemented by a zen, calm mind, Zestful Zen is the community for you! 💖✨

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Growing the Substack Way

I’ve noticed that Substackers also have a different take on growth that really resonates with my mindset.

Yes, inevitably there’s a drive for more subscribers. After all, we want to have impact and many of us want to earn from writing.

But people appear genuinely focused on what they’ve learned along the way, the relationships they’ve built and the creative outlet Substack offers, rather than the numbers on the dashboard.

Are you devaluing your successes?

We hear a lot these days about celebrating small wins, and I’m all for that.

But I wonder, in striving for greatness do we sometimes undervalue our achievements?

Does defining outcomes as small wins diminish their impact and all the hard work we put into them?

white and black long coat small dog — **Do you deserve a high five?** Photo by Raquel García on Unsplash

Many of us have that critical internal voice telling us that something just wasn’t quite good enough. But what might feel like a negligible gain to you can seem audacious and impressive to someone else.

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I opened up in my first Substack post about feeling pretty lost in my 9-5. Stagnant, like my daily grind has little impact. These days, I often feel like an imposter next to enthusiastic colleagues brimming with eagerness to get out there and engage.

So when I was asked to present at our annual conference in August, back at HQ, I was pretty apprehensive.

To be honest, I was dreading my slot (especially since it was at the end of the day when attention spans lag).

I thought people would find it dull, that it would shine the spotlight on how little I’d achieved in my role.

So I went for a self-deprecating angle, joking about “hashtag small wins!”

I got through presenting and the Q&A without stumbling, and chalked it up as a box that had been ticked off. Job done.

To my surprise though, at the networking reception afterwards, several people approached me to tell me how much they’d enjoyed my presentation.

I was stunned when one colleague asked if we could get together sometime so they could pick my brain on influencing.

But there was one comment that really brought a lump to my throat: “Holly, those weren’t small wins”.

I’d gotten so bogged down in daily obstacles that I’d failed to see that my incremental progress really did amount to something significant.

All wins, both big and small

From now on, I’m going to reframe my definition of success. No more big wins versus under-appreciated “small” wins.

Instead I’m going to celebrate ALL WINS!

Every achievement is worthy of acknowledgment and celebration.

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people covered by confetti — Photo by Keith Luke on Unsplash

So in that spirit, here are some personal wins I’m proud of, in all sizes big and small.

I’ve made good progress with my mindfulness practice. Learned lots from 8 week courses on MBSR, Breathworks Mindfulness for Stress, and Mindful Self Compassion. And I’ve completed 2 of my 6 teacher training modules. 🧘‍♀️
Two months ago, I took the plunge and started my Substack! With a beginner mindset, I’m experimenting and learning loads. It’s a joy being part of this community. ✍️
After a year of study, assignments and practice, I completed my coaching qualification! I’ve loved working with clients as an in-house coach, and my website is pretty much ready so my side hustle will soon be official. 🥳
Alongside professional achievements, I’ve prioritised wellbeing. Maintaining boundaries and work-life balance isn’t easy, but I’m getting there. ✨
I’ve invested care and presence in my friendships, physically in Belgium and the UK, and virtually for friends further afield. 💖
I continue to embrace curiosity, trying new things and meeting new people. ⭐️
I’ve quit daily Chai lattes and takeaway lunches! My wallet and waistline will both thank me 😬

Questions for self-reflection or journalling

What personal wins would you like to celebrate?
If you dig a little deeper, which wins have you glossed over or ignored?
What would a friend or colleague celebrate about you that you’re diminishing?
What do you celebrate in others but fail to celebrate in yourself?

Share the Love

Think of some successes you see around you - achieved by friends, family, colleagues, fellow Substackers - and CELEBRATE them.

You can be the one to give someone that encouraging pep talk and shine a light on wins they’re overlooking. Pay the positivity forward.

I’d love to hear your views on celebrating ALL successes, big and small – does this resonate with you?

How can we value our achievements more, especially when times are tough and just getting through the day might be a win?
What successes do you want to celebrate (yours or someone else’s)?

Let’s have a conversation in the comments, or feel free to drop me a DM. 💬

Have a sublime Saturday, friends! 🌞

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