How do you CELEBRATE past success (video/giveaway post)?

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How do you remind yourself of goals achieved?

How do you keep your past successes in mind as a way to propel you on to new achievements?

Im a firm believer that the best predictor of future behavior (or success) is past behavior.

As a result I make a conscious effort to not brush off  or down play achievements (as so many of us do) as soon as they’re over.

Some call it prideful (Ill never forget my personal training client who did).

I choose to call it “when I am successful I feel rewarded. when I recall those feelings of being rewarded Im more likely to keep doing what Im doing and remain successful.”

(I know. Prideful is far more concise huh? Eh, you’ll have that.)

I do this in two different fashions:

I journal my feelings about my successes.

I write about everything from how it felt to see my efforts pay off to the physical sensations of how it felt to succeed.

I can open my journal to any of these entries (please to see getting signed by my first literary agent & cross reference under my very first experience lead climbing) & virtually be transported back to the moment they occurred.

If Im ever faced with a new challenge & have that moment of how on earth did I ever do this before? will I be able to do it again?  Have I ever succeeded at anything?! panic all I need to do is reread my own writings.

I also remember successes & complimentary words/thoughts this way:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gqDTLDTJC8

Now you.

How do you remind yourself of & continue to celebrate past achievements?

Life is filled with myriad easy ways to recall our failures & Id love your help in compiling a list of Good Lord I Adore Myself & This  is How I Continually Celebrate ME & Remember All Ive Done tips.

oh yeah.

And if you need motivation to divulge yer secrets here it is:

Success Rice (ooh rimshot! MizFit is one creative post writer. I know I know…) has agreed to give TWO lucky commenters TEN FREE BOXES EACH of the rice of their choice (brown, white, jasmine).

So git to it and make it good.

How do you remind yourself of past achievements & continue to celebrate them after the fact?

If you havent done so before—how might you start now?

It’s important that you do.

Winners announced Friday.  USA only.

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Comments

  1. This is such an important concept. We lose a big part of ourselves when we forget about our past successes. It was brought home to me two weeks ago when I phoned my former boss on his birthday and he talked about a part of my life that I’d all but forgotten about – my work skills, my diligence and my quick grasp of new concepts. I was a VERY valued employee. It did me a world of good to have that conversation and remember that about myself.

  2. My first thought was…I just recall them all from my memory. And then I remembered, my memory’s not that great…especially the longer time passes… So then I was thinking about this, and I also have kept certain things that have really lifted me up – special cards, emails, voice mails. Although the tend to get scattered…maybe a central location would be good??

  3. Always love your thought provoking posts. To remind me of my success, I keep picture of different stages of my life on the fridge. Looking at each picture, reminds me of what it took to get me to be here where I am. Not the prettiest pictures, but I if I only put the pleasing ones, I will forget all my struggles. The good, the bad, and the ugly all gets a spot on the fridge.

  4. I LOVE that you save compliments from your husband.

    I am working on receiving compliments let alone admiting I enjoy or ‘need them.’

  5. Wow, I have to say it never really occurred to me to have any deliberate system for doing this. But what a great idea!

    One weird thing though: I sometimes find that successes in my past, if they feel too distant or if it’s an area I’m not doing as well in currently, feel almost threatening. Who was that person who wrote that funny novel or could see 10 therapy clients in a day or who ran 8 minute miles? It can almost backfire, motivationally, if I’m not in the right place in my life to tackle similar challenges. So I think if I start doing this I need to make sure the context is an encouraging one.

    But I do think it’s an awesome idea!

  6. I have a success box!!!

    I put scraps of everything in there and look through it when I am feeling low!!

    (Yes I am excited. I am not eligible to win but for the first time I am already doing what you suggest LOL!)

  7. Great post Miz.
    My girlfriend is really good at reminding herself of as you say “past successes.”

    I feel silly doing this sort of thing (it’s so girly to me) and yet I see how she does get pumped up by seeing her weight loss photos etc. on the fridge.

  8. I love the success rice tie in- very cute. They also have amazing brown rice!

    I think writing down how you feel after a success is such a great idea- that way when you need some motivation you can just flip right to it and read!

    Random- did you do something different to your hair or something? You look fabulous (you always do, just extra fabulous today!)

    I hope you do some more family blogging! I love seeing Ren Man & the tornado.

  9. I definitely tend to fear the prideful.

    I’m not sure if it was how I was raised but I brush off compliments and do not celebrate me too much for fear others will think I’m prideful.

    Did a client really say that to you?!

  10. I was brought up to believe that “being full of yourself” was very, very bad so it’s sometimes tough to celebrate my successes.

    But I have started a folder of reader emails and letters — people who’ve read my book and said that it has touched/helped them — and reading those has been a real boost for me. They keep me going some days!

    Thanks for the reminder on how important it is to celebrate, Miz 🙂

  11. Well, I have a really bad memory, so I use pictures to record everything. When I am feeling particularly bad about my running, I pull out photos of me at races.

    I think this is so important. When aren’t doing well at something at the time, its a great idea to go back and remember that we were successful at this at one time.

  12. When I was trying to lose weight, I had an old “thinner” picture of myself on the refrigerator. It reminded me that I could be more fit.

    These days, I remember successes not only in my mind, but through the family scrapbook that I’ve kept for 10 years. In those pages are pictures, events and memories, letters and cards that I always want to hold dear.

  13. yep. my client totally called me prideful and she didn’t mean it in a ‘mean’ way but more a cautionary way.

    I wish I could recall the context I just remember thinking (I was 28 or so at the time):

    Prideful? I’m just stating what happened.

  14. I love massage, so I’ll go git me a massage when I do good.

    I haven’t documented my success tangibly yet, tho I really like the idea. I do document my children’s successes by putting their various art projects in a little book (OK, OK…plans to do this, it’s in a box waiting) and a photo album (in another box waiting), but I don’t do it for myself. Maybe I’ll start my own little success album with pictures.

    Wait, that’s my blog.

  15. Very rice thought… er, nice thought. I love the “put in my pocket” mentality, whether you really put it in a pocket or not. It makes so much sense to hold on to those things.

    I recently received an email from a long time friend. Out of nowhere she told me she admired me and went into detail. I printed it out and carry it in my date book. I also keep rereading a tweet from a friend who said something really nice about me last week. So without it being a planned thing, I started.

  16. Canada here so do not enter me.

    I have a folder on my desktop (virtual) where I save all my boss’ complimentary emails.

    You are so right that I can list off the top of my head the negative ones.

    Today is the day I print that folder and bring the emails home.

    Have a great Monday all!

  17. I usually keep a folder of all the e-mails and cards related to my past successes – no matter how large or small. It reminds me on days that are a little rough to keep going!

    I’ve also been putting my successes in my blog so that will be a great record of them too!

    Have a great Monday Mizfit!

  19. I have a picture from my PhD graduation hanging on my wall in my apartment. It serves as a two fold reminder… how far I’ve come in my life, and when new people come over, they always comment on how much weight I’ve lost since then. Woot!

  20. I celebrate most of my successes by buying something I can wear (usually I try to buy something that’ll help the planet too, like something from gear that gives), and then thinking about how awesome it is that I can do x as much as possible while wearing whatever I bought.

    Then, whenever I wear it, I remember how I felt with that success.

  21. You are so healthy.

    Mind body and spirit.

    I need to start doing this yet since I live in Canada too I will have to NOT START with a rice party! 🙂

  22. What a thought provoking post, MizFit.

    I used to have a file at work where I printed off positive emails and award nominations from colleagues, clients, and friends. I’d refer to these write ups when my confidence was shaken or before a big pitch.

    For my personal fitness goals, I take progress pictures and keep strength journals to track my changes. So on days when I’m feeling like I’m spinning my wheels, I have proof that I am changing. This keeps me on track.

    I really like your idea of keeping some “quick hit” reminders on your handheld. I’m going to start doing that one, too.

  23. I used to think I was a bit of a hoarder because I like to keep cards or letters reminding me of, as you called them, past successes. Now I have an excuse!

    For years I kept a box with little keepsakes and then I tossed the contents when I realised that I was holding onto a part of my life that seemed good but was holding me back. But now, as I embark on a new adventure, I’m putting a success box together again to remind myself that I’ve done this all before and I did it well and I can do it again.

    I have a friend who poo-poos the idea constantly and yet I think she would benefit the most from seeing her past successes in the flesh.

    (Don’t enter me obviously – Canada-soon-to-be-New Zealand)

  24. I have just started doing this by way of learning to take compliments!

    If I do not celebrate me—who will.

    Fantastic post and reminder.

  25. I have a scrapbook where I keep the reminders of past glory.
    Nowadays, I keep all the compliments I receive in my head. What the heck – it’s empty most of the time anyway, might as well use it for storage…. 🙂

  26. What a good point you make – we really do dwell on failure rather than successes.

    I have never thought to gather them anywhere, but what a good idea that is – a scrapbooky/sketchbooky thing would be perfect for me!

    In Scotland so count me out of the draw.

  27. I keep them in my head. It’s often harder to recall the happy moments where one succeeds than it is the failures. I try to treat failures as learning exeriences and therefore successes. That is, if you only fail once and learn what not to do you’ve succeeded. The logic’s a bit tortured at times, but it works.

  28. I love scrapbooking and photography. So I often scrapbook or photograph things related to my success. For example, when I completed my first 5-K, I kept my race number, my time chip, and had my Daddy taken dozens of pics along the race route – all of which are in my scrapbook. And a pic of the hubby and I post-race is on my fridge, so daily I am reminded of what I achieved.

  29. DH is a photography buff who I sometimes affectionately call my own personal papparazzi. I am reminded of my successes by his photographs, which are displayed throughout our home and as my computer screensave. Even the vacation pix remind me of my achievements, as I can see that I am now more fit than ever! Seeing a slim me smiling from a vacation pic really helps motivate me on those days when cheesecake and the sofa seem waaay more appealing than the gym and a salad.

  30. Ooo. Success Brown rice is my ultimate fav!

    To a small degree, I remind myself of past achievement to stay motivated and pat myself on the back, but at the same time, I shy away from focusing on them a bit too much because I need to continue to create new successes in my life, not live off the past.

    Today I brought a 4 x 6 index card to work to write down some goals – all household oriented. Time to step away from self for just a moment and focus on my homefront to make it run like a well oiled machine!

  31. This is definately something I struggle with I suppose given that I can’t think of one time where I do this (think of past sucesses). I try to take things one day (assignment, meal, etc.) at a time as to not get overwhelmed, but I think my fear is the trade off between realizing sucess and taking it for granted that you don’t need to work as hard because you’ve alrealy done so much. Does that make sense? I guess learning to trust myself is something that I’m focusing on 🙂

  32. No need to enter me I just wanted to comment that I found Evan’s comment intriguing as it is the men in my life who are really good at patting themselves on the back.

  33. This is such a thought provoking post! It is so nice to read some health blogs that talk about more than just food…though I do love reading those. I just love how refreshing your blog is. I always take each day day by day and oftentimes I don’t even realize the accomplishments I make during that day. It’s almost like I never realize how far I’ve come, whether it be my mileage, meals, or anything. It’s always like we push for something more and something better and have a hard time appreciating the Now. I’ve lately realized I do this…and to help feel good about what I HAVE done, instead of focusing on what I have not, I write it out or simply think. During my runs, I just focus on things I have done that are good and simply thinking about it puts me back into reality. Maybe it’s the calmness of running that helps me, but after I do this, I really do feel better and more at peace with myself!

    Sorry this was such a novel, haha 🙂

  34. I really enjoy your videos, Miz.

    I connect to you in a different way than when we just read your words.

    I do need to work on celebrating me more frequently as I celebrate others often.

  35. Miz you are so good for me, i missed you last week (i can’t keep up with life sometimes!), and here you come and remind me to do something that I think will be REALLY good for me. I shall try and write tonight…

  36. You make my mind hurt sometimes, but you’re totally right. Very seldom look at my past accomplishments and I need to do it before I start taking for granted and get right back to the old habits that are slowly creeping their way back.

  37. Every single time I say something nice to Ren Man and he looks at me and says:

    WOW IM PUTTING THAT ONE IN MY POCKET!

    it makes me feel great.

    He used to gloss over his accomplishments (Hello, Phd & JD simultaneously why remaining somehow entirely NOT STRESSED OUT) & merely have the attitude of ONWARD TO THE NEXT.

    no mo’

  38. I have kept important events/successes in handwritten journals for many years (lots of unimportant stuff in there too!) I find that when I write something down, I also share that thought with others, and then that ‘cements’ it in my memory a little more.

    But I have also forgotten successes, and had that unsure feeling, especially lately when it comes to my quilting. I have felt for some time the need to start a quilt journal, so that I have a record of what I have done, and then can remind myself that I do have the necessary skills to make the next quilt.

  39. I try to keep emails, or letters, or something tangible from things I’ve done well. I still have all my racing numbers and I have my teaching license even though I don’t teach anymore. And I keep things like certificates and pictures on my bookshelf in my office. And I’m trying to use my blog as a way to record some successes I have.

    I’m also a big list maker so occassionally I’ll make a list of the good things that have happened recently to remind myself. And I ask my people in church to do the same. Big or little, successes are important.

  40. I rely on photographs to job my memory…what is so nice in this digital age is the easy, instant access I get with my digital camera – I can quickly send an email w/a photo attached and share my and my kid’s successes with close family and friends.

  42. It definitely makes it easier to attempt something when you know you have been successful before. Very good principle to apply in many areas of life. Great post!!

  43. I like how you framed this.
    I tend to celebrate my weight loss successes with gifts to myself along the way (new shoes, manicure etc) however even those are not ways in which I reflect back.

    I’m not sure if this makes sense (it does to me LOL) my treats end up being things which come and go and I rarely stop and think about all I have done.

  44. I think it’s important to be prideful from time to time 😀 When we’ve accomplished something, it’s good to be pleased with ourselves rather than to downplay it. I think that if we express how happy we are, we’re more likely to WANT to push ourselves in the future. Voicing things always makes it that much more real.

    Telling people about it is also good because that way other people sometimes get inspired by your success, or you can find people who are interested in achieving the same things as you so you can work with them to achieve your goals.

  45. I need to work on this one! I have no real system…

    Thanks for the post! It actually made me uncomfortable!

    HA

    I guess it’s telling me something!YAY!!! I mean, Im so glad. feeling discomfort can so so frequently mean we are s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g and growing

  46. Very timely!! Just this morning I was at the gym, and though I get a decent workout — gym time is also “me time” and my thinking time.

    And today (for some strange reason) I was thinking about everything I didn’t get done over the past 12 months that I wanted to.

    But reading and watching your post I realized that I too keep all of these little reminders of nice things people tell me and how I have affected their lives — whether big or small.. There are times when I re-read them for inspiration.

    Though I LOVE my work, sometimes I forget just how much I impact other peoples lives.

    Thanks for this post — I needed it today!

  47. Carla, when I was about 37 I went back to college. I had just given birth to my twins, my two eldest had just gotten out of the hospital, and my middle child had just gotten in for what would be a three year almost continuous stint. I’d also just bought a 100 year old house that was undergoing renovation, had just been diagnosed with Lupus a year before, and was unemployed and on Social Security disability, and I’d kicked my fiance to the curb 2 weeks before the wedding because he decided after we were married he was moving out and traveling for 6 months to “find himself”. I told him to find himself before we got married.

    So there I am, in a crumbling house in a rough neighborhood on my own with 4 handicapped kids, and I knew that I didn’t want to stay on social security. I figured no matter how bad my physical condition got I could still teach (ok, so I was wrong about that part) and went back to school, fighting the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation all the way. I transfered some credits from the 70s, took classes full time, graduated with my teaching degree on the Deans List. I did well enough that they invited me back for my Masters degree and honored me with a fellowship that paid my entire way. I did my Masters in one year (even though I had to take a three month LOA when my son transfered hospitals and I had to get a court to force the hospitals to retain him) by taking triple the class load in the final semester and doing summer school. I graduated with honors once again, then moved out of state for the start of my new career. Oh, and during that time I was also teaching my child who I was told would never walk or talk how to do just that, and taking kids to physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

    I figure I can do just about anything I put my mind to given sufficient time (and health). My diplomas and honor certificate hang in my living room, my constant reminder that I’ve done some pretty tough things in the past.

    I don’t “reward” myself in the classical sense. I know a lot of people do, but my philosophy is that success is it’s own reward.

  48. I just realized that other than blogging, I don’t either celebrate or remind myself of my successes, but I’m trying very hard to remember to be conscious of and thankful for them all the time.

  49. Exactly what I needed to hear today after a very tough weekend. I have taken up running and was very proud of my previous road races and the fact that I was getting pretty fast and winning for my age group. I then signed myself up for my hometown race and put waaay too much emphasis on the results of this race. In the end, I made everyone miserable and I acted like a brat b/c I was too focused on the results rather than the enjoyment of me even being able to run and complete a race that I would never have imagined running in before. I guess I got too “prideful” of the fast paced numbers rather than be thankful for my past successes beyond the finish times. Sometimes you just have to take a step back and think of yourself in third person (as crazy schitzo as that sounds) and basically say out loud, “I’m proud of me, I did my best.” If you don’t, your cheating yourself out of recognizing your strong and have come a long way. 🙂

  50. kate? no words. some days your comments simply kick my post’s ass.

    Kim? MAN I GET WHAT YOU ARE SAYING (and yes, Sister, Im screaming at you :))

    when I finally learned to enjoy the process/journey (of everything. from manuscript writing to working out) it became much easier to see my successes as well.

    I love the 3rd person idea.
    it all ties back into the fact we could all treat ourselves a little MORE like we treat our friends.

  51. Photos! I like to frame pictures of what I consider my sucesses — I just made a huge collage framed photo of my national show goatie winners!

  52. Hangs head. I fear that in my own head, I seldom give myself credit for successes. Or I diminish them with qualifiers -but x could have been better! I am not the best in the world. So I acknowledge a personal accomplishment then immediately just keep on going, head down, feeling like a failure.

    I NEED this resource. I need to kick the ego out of my head and listen for this. And create a system of acknowleding and recognizing my personal successes.

  53. Hm. This was timely. Last week was sort of a wash in many ways, and I’ve been . . . not BEATING myself up about it exactly, but . . . strongly chastising? That sounds right. I need to remember what I’ve done well. And I like the journal idea a lot; I’m totally stealing that! 🙂

    Actually, I have one compliment I carry with me. A couple of years ago I went through a really bad breakup, and when I was home one weekend, crying into my pillow, one of my sisters swiped my phone. The next time I popped it open, the little line of text that came up was, “Marste’s amazing.” It’s still there. I think of her every time I open my phone. 🙂

  54. I hang my race medals on the wall. That’s not really a celebration, but a good reminder.

    I recently hung my college diplomas up too. That was long overdue.

  55. wow, I’ve not done this in years. When I ran road races it was easy – I saved the bib numbers, and put my finishing times on them. However, they and the finisher medals from my longer races have just been stuffed in a box somewhere for the last ten years. I don’t keep track of any success otherwise… I think I need to start.

  56. I have a new bad habit – I buy new clothes in my new smaller size. I kept none of my ‘fluffy’ clothes. So, it’s stay committed or walk abouts naked. LOL

    The way I feel, a more fabulous life, feeling lit up and alive, ready to meet things that come up, these are the rewards that give back to me every single day.

    I worked so hard to get them, that I do not take them for granted.

  57. A very intriguing & thought provoking post! I always love all your ideas! I never even would have thought of them. I never have even journaled… except when I was bodybuilding & then it was just recording what I did in case I wanted to so it again.

    I think I have always been afraid to journal or write down stuff. Like you mentioned, it seems like I would always want to write down the negative stuff & not the positive.. plus I always had a hard time finding the positive or even believing I was that good at things. Definitely a process & I can say good thing about myself now although still fighting that negative self talk.

    I really have to think what I should do about this. I do at times think back to when I did good things like win 5k’s or win my bodybuilding contests & most are sports/fitness related.

    OK, you got me thinking! I am always afraid of not succeeding so I tend to “think” about it & then prepare for good or bad so I am not disappointed.. NOT a good strategy! 🙂

    Thx as always!

  58. Journaling is huge for me… otherwise I’m sure I’d forget! I definitely will be copying you when it comes time that I have a hubby or boyfriend and want some good things to look to in times of stress (writing down his complements in good times).

    Thanks!
    Keri

  59. I have almost no memory. Literally. I have many sleep issues, and since I don’t sleep well at night, I don’t have a chance to “download” what I put in my short term memory that day. It leads to some very difficult moments. I have implored my Kid and Hubby to help me remember things, like don’t eat wheat. I also use my phone’s scheduling system. But for learning from successes and failures, if I did actually learn from them, maybe I wouldn’t be nearly 300 pounds.

    help.

    Vee at http://www.veegettinghealthy.blogspot.com

  60. This is a good one for me. I have never been good at accepting compliments of any kind, no matter how much they were deserved. I always shrugged them off with a “golly gee, not me” kinda way.
    No more!
    I am going to start taking them and holding on to them. When I get them as email or txt messages I will seperate them into their own category. And I will re-read them!
    I think this will really help me when the going gets tough!
    Thanks for the motivation!

  61. This exercise is a healthy display of pride. Of course, I like to remind myself of where I’ve been. It is a biblical no no to look back, but I’ve done it and haven’t turned into a pillar of salt *fingers crossed*. I’ve kept some of my old fat clothes and will look at my old “fat” pictures. It’s not an obsession, but it keeps me grounded. Looking at where you’ve been helps you to appreciate where you are now.

  62. As my hubby is a professional photographer, it seems we are always in front of the camera, if we want to be or not. SO with that I have TONS of photos and pick out those that remind me of what I have accomplished. They are in my personal photo archive; some I share via my blog, as I did today, others are more private, just for me to remember the victory.

  63. I have gotten so far from when I was younger. Sometimes I think that I have not gotten that far in life and that I can’t make big decisions until I have completed my goals. But then I think how I was a few years back….a high school dropout with no future. I had an epiphany once and decided that I was going to do something with my life. I then got myself into school and have been going to college to become a physician assistant. When things get back I think about where I am now with a great stable job, husband, and a house with something to look forward too. I remind myself everyday especially on those “mondays” or any other stressful time.

  64. I had always been taught not to boast or dwell on successes. It was more that you were to keep them to yourself, and be happy about it on the “inside.” In one way, I still do that. But in another, I post blog posts on my sparkpeople.com blog. That way I’m writing personal thoughts, but any of my Spark friends can read it. Also, now I set mini-goals along the way to a big goal (of losing 25 lbs. and getting more fit), and I’ve found that to be a great way to celebrate successes while I’m learning how to accept them and use them to motivate myself further.

  65. I love all your insights and really liked this clarification:

    This exercise is a healthy display of pride.

    TOTALLY Camevil.

    we all need a little pride.

    (insert joke here about Miz goething FALL)

  66. this is such a great topic. all too often people forget to celebrate what they have achieved when they have further to go, but thats what is going to motivate you to get there!

  67. i have not done so before..although i expected to do it on my own blog, seems i forgot to set up THAT label lol:)

    i am looking forward to reading through all the comments here and getting some great ideas on how to keep track of my successes..thank you!

    p.s. if i happen to be randomly selected and since i am not in the u.s. can my rice be donated to a u.s. food bank?

    xo I LOVE the food bank idea, tuff. thanks!

  68. Hmmm, I never really thought about how I celebrate past success. In fact, I guess I really don’t. To be honest I’m a huge pessimist a heart, so I always see failure and rarely take the time to see success. So when it does happen I move on to other things to achieve without noticing them.

  69. I need to begin doing this as lately I have been feeling exhausted.
    Physically and mentally.

    I think if I took time to rejuvenate my soul and remind myself I AM SUCCESSFUL! I DO SOME GREAT THINGS! I may feel less wiped out all the time.

    Thanks Miz.

  70. I designed my own necklace and had it made. I wear it daily and remind myself why I designed it/made it and I see it in the mirror constantly! What better way to remind myself of reaching the goal of losing 40 lbs?!

  71. i write down in my journal and always remind myself of the positive things that I could do. Being positive also brings happiness for myself and others around me.

  72. As always, great post! Yes, keeping track of our successes is so important, yet so easy to “forget”… I think so often we focus on the road blocks, on when things don’t go well, on when we didn’t perform our best… Yet there are so many examples of success, big & small (and I think it’s important to celebrate the small successes as well as the big ones!). It’s all a matter of what we choose to look at and remember! Thanks for the reminder! 🙂

  74. Love it! I definitely needed to read/watch this entry today! I’ve found myself struggling lately with my emotions and instead of focusing on the difficult things I am going to switch my focus to my successes!

    I have casually saved some emails and texts, but I like your idea of organizing them to go back to them as needed.

    I tend to reward myself with fun things along the way….new workout clothes, pedicures…the biggest reward was when I hit my 100 pound lost mark…I bought myself a ring. My ring size has changed quite a bit during my journey and to me the ring was not only a fun reward of my success, but a constant reminder and gauge…I know if I start to slip up and put any weight back on the ring will no longer fit. Right now the ring is like my trophy.

    MizFit…I’m so glad I found you!!!

  75. I suppose I use my blog (since 2008). But consciously, I keep racking ’em and sackin ’em.
    It’s sort of easier to see a success in weightloss when I used to weigh a heck of a lot more.
    Plus all the other wondrous things that keep happening. It’s all learning and living and somehow thriving while we do all we need to do to get to the next step.
    Loved this message today. It’s interesting to consider.

  76. I use my running log and my journal. Whenever I get a little down, I always look back and re-read previous entries and it always comes back to “look how far you have come”. That always makes me feel better.

  77. I have (more notebooks than anyone should) full of notes, pictures, etc from others and little reminders to myself… like there’s a picture of a random boy that my bestie loved in middle school that I snapped a picture of on the sly to give to her, and I have a copy to and every time I see it I’m right back at our middle school lunch table giggling about how cute he was… I love keeping these little reminders of my journey both good and bad.

  78. I have never done this, but I can difinitly see the benifit it. I am going to start a success journal!

    Thank you for all your inspiration!

    BTW… I was watching your vlog with my boys and my 7 y.o. said: “Wow, that lady has big muscles!”

    Angie

  81. As an adult, my first *true* feeling of success, came right after my 6yo was born. Today, I see my version of success when I look at my three girls. They inspire me every single day.

  82. Thank you Miz for making me think about past successes and I must say it forces me to dig a little deep as I am not feeling very successful at the moment.

    I started a journal a few months ago (your influence) and I will work in past achievements and goals for recognizing future successes.

    Great give-away, I LOVE Success Rice.

  83. I married at 17 when I was pregnant. When my daughters were through college and we were still happily married I wrote my book, “Flying by the Seat Of My Soul.” I put how I did it in there!

    We are all survivors and successful people. One persons success is not more important than anothers. We get in trouble when we compare. In fact we create our own suffering and end up believing we didn’t succeed at all.

    Thanks for your constant uplifting you give us readers.
    You rock.

  84. This is a very interesting post. I’ve never felt the need to recall and celebrate past successes because I try to focus on the present. I like the idea of saving things in a memory box so I will try that!

  85. Work successes I forget easily. I really like your idea of journaling all of the feelings surrounding a success and rereading whenever a new challenge is looming. For some reason I often think about how far my marriage has come, and how I successfully conquered an eating disorder. Maybe I should think about those successes when I’m feeling doubtful about my work accomplishments!

  86. I consider each day a success when I manage to complete at least half of the tasks I set for myself. I consider it a success when my family comliments me on a dinner I’ve prepared or produced something new into our lives. I consider it a success when my grandchildren put there arms around me and tell me I’m the bestest Grandma ever. I consider it a big success after 48 yrs. of marriage my hubby and I still respect and care for each other.

  87. Journal/blog/facebookupdate/tweet. In other words, make records of it. I have the memory of a goldfish and as I always say – “I’m not worth a damn without my notes.”

    I also think it’s very important to remember past successes (as well as what I’ve learned from my failures). I enjoy going back and rereading old journals and do it occasionally to remind myself both how far I’ve come and where my head used to be.

  88. I don’t know how I missed this post or this concept in general.

    The big past successes? Yes. I like to think and celebrate the fact that I’ve been successful. It’s a lot easier to anticipate future success when I can acknowledge past success, imho.

  89. A tad late, but this post forced me to comment. I have NEVER ever thought of myself as successful. However, over time people have twisted my arm behind my back and pretty much rubbed my nose into it to see how well I have done at things. Its an old remnant of my HS days where I was told that I wouldn;t ever be “successful”.
    I remember that much more than I am able to remember my accomplishments, and whatever I do recall I nitpick too much.
    I need to figure out a way of celebrating what I am, rather than the perfectionist I wish I were.

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