It’s Time to STOP and CELEBRATE Your ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In the sphere of self improvement, much lip service is paid to the idea of goal setting. Chances are, if you are trying to enrich your life and find more success, these steps have been hammered into your brain:

• Set a goal
• Develop a plan
• Take action
• Follow through
• Measure your success
• Make changes to your plan
• Repeat

There is a good chance you've set a number of goals for yourself in the past year. You've no doubt set your sights on losing weight, making more money, spending more time with your family, etc. But before you begin your path towards achieving a new goal,

IT'S CRITICAL to take a moment to STOP and CELEBRATE what you have already accomplished.

It's easy to recognize areas in your life that could use improvement, but people often overlook the pieces of their lives they can currently be proud of. While it feels wonderfully productive to set goals with the aim of bettering yourself, it is equally uplifting to celebrate the things in your life in which you have already found success. Instead of getting perpetually bogged down trying to achieve bigger and better things, it's a good idea to give your self-confidence an occasional boost by acknowledging the things you are doing or have done well up until this moment.

To figure out and pay tribute to the positive things you've already accomplished, take a few minutes to look back on the past 12 months and ask:

What have you done in the past year that has improved who you are as a person?
1) Have you taken steps to try and see the positive in situations more frequently?
2) Have you broken off any toxic relationships?
3) Have you become more assertive?
4) Have you worked on effectively communicating with others?

What have you done in the past year that has helped improve someone else's life?
1) Have you given your money or time to a charity?
2) Did you donate blood?
3) Have you provided someone with a shoulder to cry on?
4) Did you give up your seat on the bus or train to someone else or help someone carry their groceries to their car?
5) Did you teach a child how to ride a bike, tie a shoelace, or play a sport?

What have you accomplished off of your day-to-day to-do list?
1) Did you finally get around to cleaning out the garage?
2) Did you pay off a debt?
3) Did you get rid of your old clothes to free up more closet space?
4) Did you organize your files or your desk at work?
5) Did you plant that garden, fix that car, or paint that room?

What have you accomplished off your "bucket list?"
1) Did you finally take a trip you've always wanted to take?
2) Did you write that book you've always wanted to write?
3) Did you learn a new language?
4) Did you land your dream job?
5) Did you graduate from college, buy a home, get married, or have a baby?

Did you do anything to improve yourself or your life?

Grab a piece of paper and a pen and write down at least 10 things you've accomplished in the past year. Give yourself a pat on the back for each of your successes and take a moment to really appreciate how each of your accomplishments has improved your life or someone else's. Make it a point to keep track of all of your accomplishments from now on. Perhaps you and your spouse or your friends can make a habit of celebrating each success together. Reflecting on your achievements in such a way feels pretty great, doesn't it?

Keeping in mind the plethora of things you have accomplished sets a positive groundwork for the creation of new goals. Plus, if you recognize how many things you've already done well, it will make striving toward new accomplishments seem a bit less daunting and may give you a bit more confidence in your abilities.

It's easy to set a goal, but it's much harder to reach the finish line. You should celebrate every chance you get!