One of the other nuggets I took away from that interview with Guillermo del Toro was the importance of celebrating small achievements. Not every achievement is going to be something huge.
Some of the examples he gave were simply being a good friend or a good brother.
It’s funny how sometimes you hear something at exactly the right moment.
This particular nugget was just what I needed to hear to start focusing on my own smaller achievements.
And for me, they can be as simple as maintaining a bedtime routine or meal prepping.
I started making a list of these little daily achievements and how they made me feel.
And in doing that, I’ve started giving myself a little more credit for some of the bigger things, too.
Like moving.
Regardless of how this adventure works out, I took the chance.
I’m not sitting here wondering, What if?
It’s also helped me appreciate it when people tell me I’m brave or that it took courage to make the move. I’ve had people tell me, “I could never do that.”
Normally, my response would be to point out all the ways I thought my decision was careless or impulsive.
Instead, I’m learning to accept those compliments and actually celebrate what I’ve done.
And to start recognizing the achievements I’ve made and thinking about how I want to build on them.
Writing these things down has also helped me learn to be more present.
Not focusing all my attention on the rearview mirror or even the windshield right now.
Just appreciating where I am.
There are still times when I’m writing down these daily achievements and I catch myself thinking, How dumb is this?
And then I have to remind myself that it isn’t dumb.
It’s also been helping me embrace the next part of this journey, as unexpected as this next chapter is going to be.
Reminding myself that those negative voices can be turned down a bit, allowing the positive ones to take center stage.
I’m learning to focus on how things actually make me feel instead of trying to force a particular feeling. Just exploring whatever comes up for a bit, without sitting in it for too long.
And when I find that a little too difficult, I say my daily achievements out loud, starting with the phrase:
“Remember to celebrate the small achievements.”
I’ve also created a few guidelines for myself.
I only celebrate that day’s achievements, regardless of how small they might seem. I don’t allow myself to focus on yesterday’s because those have already been celebrated.
I allow myself to acknowledge where I feel there could be improvements and work those into tomorrow’s goals.
And I take a moment to recognize how I feel about what I’ve accomplished.
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