Remember to Celebrate the Little Accomplishments

Remember to celebrate the little accomplishments in life.

A few weeks ago, there was a small step forward with something in my life that I had been talking to my counselor about, but I did not see it. I remember the conversation where she asked me how I handled a situation she had known about. I told her how it went then immediately began having negative thoughts toward myself about how I had not overcome the thing.

She must have known how I was beating myself up because she saw where there was growth and asked me, “Did you celebrate how you did?” I remember thinking, why would I celebrate that? I still failed. So, I told her no. She then asked me why I didn’t. She pointed out that I grew in the way that I handled it, so I should celebrate the little step forward.  It was in that moment I realized how hard I have been on myself; I was not been giving myself grace, I wasn’t celebrating when there is growth and I was not celebrating the little accomplishments in life.

“This season has been all about the little things.

Sitting in the living room playing Animal Crossing with my sister.

Playing cards with my brother.

Sitting on the back porch with my mom looking at the stars.

Cooking with my dad.

Being around a bonfire with the family”.

It has been such a sweet season of growth and beauty, while also being a season of grief and sadness. Through everything, those little moments meant the most to me, and I will celebrate them. Thanking Jesus for each one. But, there is a difference in celebrating little moments and little accomplishments. I am so eager to celebrate these little moments with others, but celebrating little steps forward in my mental health, that is harder.

This past fall, I dealt with an eating disorder called Anorexia Nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa is where a person does not eat for whatever reason. Through counseling, I realized my reason was control. I was in a season where I felt like things were spiraling out of control, and this thing gave me the false sense that I still had control over something. It brought me down and stole my hope and my joy. I did not like who I had become. There has been growth from it, but this season of unknowns has made it hard not to revert back to it, and when I do fail I tend to beat myself up about it. I can be so quick to be mean to myself about messing up, so hesitant to celebrate when there is growth.

Remember to celebrate the little accomplishments in life.

• I ate meals with snacks in between, CELEBRATE.
• I did not let my anxiety spiral into a state that kept me from eating, CELEBRATE.
• I ate even though I didn’t feel like I was hungry because it was time for me to eat, CELEBRATE.

Even though none of those things mean I have gained the weight back that I lost. Even though none of those things mean I have stopped having moments where I stumble.  I have to REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE THE LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LIFE.  I know Jesus is doing a work in me in spite of my setbacks. He is growing me every day. When I celebrate the little accomplishments, I am celebrating His work in my life. I am choosing to focus on healing instead of hurt. I am choosing to focus on Jesus and the work He is doing. So, I am choosing to remember to celebrate the little accomplishments in life.