Achievement is defined as a thing done successfully with skill, effort, or courage. Success is the accomplishment of a goal. Courage is the strength to do something in the face of pain. I believe achievement is so much more courage than anything else. When we think of achievements, it is generally the big wins like achieving your University degree, achieving that promotion, your driving license, and so on. But why do we not put as much focus on the small achievements? For some people today that might be getting out of bed, showering, or picking up their phone to read this. For some people that takes more courage than it does for the person who went for a promotion in the job that they are successful in.
I also feel we can not make big wins and achievements without taking count of the little ones first as they all add up together. If we always aim for the big achievements, we will not appreciate the little ones that have got us to where we are today.
Overall, as a society, we are very goal orientated, whether we choose to believe it or not. Even down to getting that free cup of coffee after we have purchased 5 is an achievement in its own sense and more importantly, it gives us that sense of achievement we crave. There will be times in our lives where we do not feel like we are achieving anything but these are the ones that we need to take note of because we are really achieving our most. It is time to start celebrating all our wins and achievements no matter how big or how small they are.
I have just finished reading Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life written byHéctor García and Francesc Miralles. I am not affiliated with any group to promote this book but it got me thinking. It is based around figuring out what gives a particular area in Japan happiness and some of the oldest residents, that are as old as 122, and what they have included in their life to support them to get to this age. My take away from this book is that for them to achieve their Ikigai or their reason for being, is that they have many different aspects to their life like being part of a community, never giving up, eating good food, living a simple life, focusing their energy on their well-being and being good people. The reason I thought this was important to mention in this post is for us to take note that stress and always aiming for the next achievement or best thing does not always support us in life. They pride themselves on their gardens and sell them to each other even after they have reached 100 years old.
For this I want you to take some time, get a piece of paper, sit in a place where you feel calm and at ease, stick some headphones in with some music if you want. Now really think, in the last 12 months, what are all the things that you have achieved? No matter how big or small they are. I will share some of mine as it is important for me to do this also.
- Fostered a dog
- Bought a plant, which is still surviving 4 months later (Major win!)
- Made myself a home office/workspace
- Started using the whole of my apartment for different tasks
- Became chairperson of Darkness into Light
- I was part of the team that became the Middle East GAA Junior Ladies football champions
- I did not travel anywhere and have managed. Part of what I want to achieve in life is spending holidays experiencing new cultures and travelling to see my family that I live away from it gives me energy and motivation. This year this has not been possible. It has been hard but like everyone else, I am coping with these changes.
- I spent time focused on myself
- I hand-knitted a rug that is too small for anything, but I still love it. Update, the dog now owns it and loves it!
- I am still doing my best to learn a new language. Over a year later and I am still no further on, but I am continuing my quest to succeed
- I am surviving, like others, a pandemic
- A new appreciation for different things
- I have read more than 1 book; I think I am on number 4 now (I am generally not a reader)
- I did nothing on some days, and I made it through
- I managed to get out of bed on other days when I really did not want to. Today being one
- I played a football match and came out with no bruises (first time ever)
- I have managed to return to work even in the middle of chaos (Biggest achievement)
- I have slowed down in ways. I cannot lie 😊
- I have achieved a better understanding and appreciation for the word and feeling of love
- I have lost and grieved many things
- I have grown as a person in so many ways
- I have experienced lots of new things even though they have been limited and different
- I have learned to re-adjust and do everything differently, with work, life, sports, social, travel, family
- Achieved a new level of appreciation for people especially family
- Achieved a good level of fitness, and lost it again, now a new achievement to work on
- I have achieved days that I have only managed to watch television
- Supporting others when all I wanted to do was cry
- Cooking dinner when I did not want to eat
- Set up my own website. It took me 4 months before I launched it
- I reinvented my website after I messed it up (if you do not know me, I am not very good with technology)
- Started my own blog
- Becoming a certified professional life and career development coach practitioner
- I was interviewed on a podcast
- Created YouTube videos
- Being kind to myself
So, I mentioned over thirty things above, and out of them maybe you would consider 8 as real achievements. The greatest achievement out of them all was being kind to myself and the last one that I thought of and mentioned. Some of the reasons why I would consider it so, firstly I nearly forgot about it, has been something that has taken a lot of effort and perseverance to achieve and I am not even halfway there. It is something we do not always do, and it is so important. Now being kind to yourself is going to differ from person to person. The failures are still achievements, as you have done something in the first place to fail.
The next was not letting my plant die. It has had some rocky moments but it is resilient, which I am glad about as it has given me the courage to do other things. Because if I can keep this plant alive when usually I kill plants that are unkillable, then what else can I do?
I see the small achievements as the foundation for the bigger ones, without which we cannot be successful with all the other things. It is like a chain reaction. Some days I lack the motivation to be who I used to be, I then feel somewhat guilty. These are the important days to remind myself that I am doing my best and I have still managed something on that day. Keep going and I hope you have got some or will get some value out of focusing on those little wins and small achievements.
