It can feel overwhelming to face disappointments when you’re aiming for positive changes in your life. Just remember, this doesn’t mean you’re not a great person! The cheeseburger and fries you enjoyed last week were simply part of the journey before you decided to focus on getting in shape and eating healthier. During a self-improvement phase, old habits can stand out more, but that’s completely normal.

Celebrate Small Wins to Build a Life You’re Proud Of

You need to begin celebrating the small victories, or else self-improvement will be filled with misery and disappointment. Improving your life can be difficult because you may be trying to overcome habits that have been hard-wired into you since childhood. Not having a beer after work may feel like torture when it’s what you’ve been doing for the past decade. Saying no to the co-worker who brings donuts will be difficult.

Own Your Wins

Congratulate yourself when you stick to your habits.

If you get up early to go to the gym before work, be excited that you are doing things nobody else wants to do. These small wins will keep the momentum going and translate to other facets of your life.

Get up early and work out while everyone else is still asleep? That’s you.

Now redirect that to other parts of your life.

The person who never eats junk food? That’s you.

The person who only uses their phone as a tool? That’s You.

The person who doesn’t need the shiny new toy and practices delayed gratification? That’s you.

Replace the above habits with some of your own that you currently accomplish or strive to accomplish; the key is to be proud of yourself.

Be Your Biggest Fan

This post isn’t an instruction manual on improving your life; it’s about keeping the momentum going. Just like you celebrate your favorite sports team’s victories, celebrate your victories, too. The same feeling of wanting to quit because you get down on yourself anytime you make a mistake, can be switched up. Continuing to perform good habits because you are making the fan (you) happy will keep you going through the difficult times.

f you enjoyed this content, please sign up for my newsletter below, share this post with a friend, or read some of my other blog posts.  Thanks for stopping by.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Ponder focuses on the incredible power of reading, and even though stand-alone articles like these are unique ideas, I like to credit any books that inspired or gave me the resources for the idea.  

Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon