Why You Should Celebrate Every Win, No Matter How Small
Every day counts in fighting for your mental health.
When was your last win? Yesterday? A month ago? When you were 12? I’ll bet it was today, but you didn’t even notice.
As busy humans, we get so fixed on our big goals that we lose sight of what we’re accomplishing along the way. But every big win is made up of dozens of smaller ones.
No one gets up one morning and runs a marathon with no training and imagines they will win. To reach the finish line, you run every day. Frosty mornings and rainstorms don’t stop you. Instead, you get your butt out of bed and lace up your shoes. Every time you go out the door, it’s a win. You should celebrate every mile you cross. The tiny wins push you toward the big ones.
You don’t cross the finish line every day. Significant milestones may be days, weeks, or even years apart. Most days are about training. You spend your time working to get closer to the next goal.
It would be wonderful if every day included a major win — a golden trophy symbolizing success — but all the other days are just as important.
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
I Get It
“But, Scott,” you may be thinking. “I’m not a runner. I’m barely a walker.”
Me too.
When you have a mental illness, you may feel victory is impossible. Weeks can go by where surviving feels hopeless. Simple tasks such as getting out of bed or washing your hair may require monumental effort. I get it. I wrote the poem, Mountain, to describe the tough days. Those days suck, but you are still winning.
After battling bipolar for decades, every day still has its obstacles. Mental illness brings on its own version of thunderstorms and frigid winds. Yet, we never stop training.
You are Winning
Every time you take your meds, eat healthy food, or force yourself to bed when you’d rather binge-watch the next five episodes of Stranger Things, you’re training. When you write in your journal, practice gratitude, or skip coffee after lunch because you know what it does to your sleep pattern, you’re winning. Celebrate the win.
Some days, the only success is staying alive, but that counts, too. I know how hard it can be. Celebrate the win.
It’s vital to remember every day matters. Living with mental illness is a marathon, so keep training. What you do today can have a tremendous impact on how tomorrow goes. Practice healthy habits today and it makes all the other days easier.
So, I ask again, when was your last win? Celebrate your victory.
Think Deeper
Write about winning with these prompts. If you write a Medium story, please come back and leave a link.
Journal Prompt: What was your biggest win? How did it make you feel? What did it teach you?
Creative Writing Prompt: Your character is the underdog in today’s race. It’s nearly impossible for them to win, but they are determined to compete. Write a story about the race from their perspective.
Until next time, keep fighting.
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