NOTE TO MY READERS: I’m adding a new day to my posting schedule. In addition to my Thursday post, I will add a post on MONDAYS involving photography. As my kickoff, I’m planning a special contest for my readers. I hope you will look for it next Monday, March 30, 2009.
Keep Track of Your Accomplishments
I found this exercise while cleaning out my computer files. I can’t remember who gave it to me or what the source was, but I think it’s an excellent way to practice positive thinking.
I tried this before sharing it and I’ll be honest with you. I found it challenging, especially after having a tough week. My focus was more on what I DIDN’T get done. This made it hard to come up with accomplishments; I had to dig a little deeper.
But that’s what I like about this exercise. Doing it makes you really THINK about your accomplishments, even the small ones that you might have ignored. For example, to increase my endurance, I’ve added an extra half a mile to my regular walk. This wasn’t a major change, but it was an accomplishment for me!
It’s easy to remember the BIG ticket accomplishments, but it’s the everyday ones that can get lost.
Okay, now I challenge you to try this exercise. See if it reminds you to think positive by focusing on what you’ve done well or are proud of doing during your week.
Accomplishments Reminder – Try it!
1. Complete these two sentences:
This week I have accomplished the following in my personal life…
This week I have accomplished the following in my professional life…
2. Write down what comes to mind. There may be overlap and that’s okay. It’s important to do this as a free association – don’t think about your responses because you may filter them. Write as much as you can for both statements.
3. Once you’ve done this, go back to both lists and draw a favorite symbol (star, checkmark, circle or whatever works for you) beside the accomplishments you’re most proud of. This doesn’t negate the others; it highlights what is most important to you at this time.
4. Read these accomplishments aloud to yourself. Another idea that’s a bit more involved is to purchase a purse-sized photo album and write down the accomplishments you want to remember on a 3″ x 5″ card. Then you can review them just like favorite pictures.
Note to my readers: If anyone knows the source of this exercise, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. Thanks :~)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What have you accomplished this week that you’re proud of and want to share?
What do you think makes us focus on what we haven’t accomplished more than what we have?
How do you remind yourself to think positive?
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
This is an excellent exercise to create awareness of our self. Thanks for sharing!
Marks last blog post..Being Cool In The Hood
@Mark — I’m pleased that you like it. Let me know how it works for you :~)
Hi Sara,
Very thought provoking questions indeed! In the past few years I have become quite good at dismissing negative talk or focusing on the negatives in life and I keep perfecting that consistently. So having said that I thought this exercise would be easy, but it wasn’t for another reason. I found I couldn’t think of stuff that I thought would be “significant enough”. But then I remembered the golden piece here…it is the little stuff. With that reflection in mind, the exercise got much easier and in the end it is the little things that make the biggest difference.
In terms of how I overcame negative talk, I think once I saw the movie the “Secret” it all just clicked for me and I realized that I am going to think all day anyway, so I have 2 choices: to spend all my energy on thoughts that are going to make me feel good and attract good things into my life, or on thoughts that are going to do the opposite.
Well the choice was obvious and I have found this actually much easier to implement daily than one may think. The best part is, it really does feel great to be in a constant positive state of mind, all the time (or at least most of the time)
Highly recommend the movie if you have not seen it. Now that was the tip of the ice berg and I followed learning more about thoughts and energy since, so it is not necessarily an overnight process, but an ongoing evolving one that puts a whole new spin and perspective on life, an amazing one might I add
Evitas last blog post..Seekers of Nature
@Evita — I haven’t seen the movie, Secret, but now I will look for it. I’m glad you remembered that “it is the little stuff.” I also found it hard when I did exercise. I think it’s because we always think “accomplishment” means something BIG and as you said, “it is the little things that make the biggest difference” because when we think of them, we realize we ARE making progress, sometimes a small step at a time. My big awareness came when I realized I could actually change the way I think…from the more negative “glass half empty” to the more positive “glass half full.” You are right that it does take PRACTICE, but what doesn’t in our lives. Thank you so much for sharing:~)
There isn’t much that I’m proud of, except that I am a father of a wonderful son. The only other thing is my journal, and I’m very proud of where I’ve taken that and where it’s going.
I think we focus on what we haven’t accomplished because the grass is always greener on the other side.
I don’t remind myself to stay positive…I don’t even use affirmations to try to make myself feel better about things. I am either very happy, or I am not.
Matthew Drydens last blog post..How to Write a Blog Post
@ Matthew — Well, it looks like you’ve picked a wonderful person to be proud of….your son. Your love and support of him is so important to how he will view his life. I agree with you that we focus on the grass that’s greener and that is one reason for this exercise…to remind ourselves that we’re already sitting in green grass. On the other hand, I hear you. It’s sounds like you are content to be wherever you are…good for you and thank you for sharing :~)
Hi there Sara – sounds like a great exercise. Frank and I are feeling pleased with ourselves that we have sorted some financial and paperwork things, and that we have cleaned the house a bit! Very accomplished!
Cheers – Robin
Robins last blog post..What If? The Movie, A Review
@ Robin — Good for you and Frank. I know I always feel so good when I’ve cleaned up my house, even when I’ve stuffed a more things in my closet…at least the house feels orderly and that helps me so much. Every thing you do, small or big, that makes you feel positive about yourself is an accomplishment to be proud of :~)
Self-acknowledgement is so important. I used to post a self-acknowledging list every Friday on my blog, but haven’t done it for the month of March. I think habit allows us to focus on what we haven’t accomplished more than what we have, which is why I started my self-acknowledging list in the first place. Perhaps it is time for me to start writing those weekly “Celebrate Yourself Friday” posts again.
This week I weight trained with my personal trainer.
Stacey / Create a Balances last blog post..Authentic Happiness Series – Part Two
@ Stacey — What is always amazing to me about blogging is how connected our community can be regarding ideas. So many times I go my favorite bloggers and find that we’ve hit the same nail, but with different hammers. Personally, I love this. I will look forward to reading your Celebrate Yourself Friday posts. Oh, and good for you about doing the weight training…that’s a great accomplishment for the week :~)
Sara – I REALLY needed this after this week. My week began with the collapse of a joint venture I’d been working on for five months. I discovered I’d been mislead – dare I say lied to – about my partner’s ability to deliver.
Then a few days later, another “breech of trust” situation surfaced and I had to make another HARD decision to walk away from what was apparently a “bad situation”.
Last night, I found myself ruminating on both situations – and today I’m reading your brilliant post. I’m going to put this exercise into effect. Instead of focusing on the two SHIT BOMB experiences this week (your blog disaster didn’t make the top 5 if that tells you anything) I’m going to focus on the POSITIVE experiences.
THANK YOU!
Kathy | Virtual Impaxs last blog post..A Love/Hate relationship with Social Media Marketing
@ Kathy — When something bad in our lives, it is so easy to act like a cow with her cud and chew it over and over again. I certainly had to fight this regarding my blog crash, especially when I realized it was my own fault! That’s what I liked about this exercise, it makes us to look past the negative stuff and see the positive. I’m so pleased that this post helped you and that my blog disaster didn’t make the top 5 list :~) .
Oooo, I like this idea. It is so much easier to dwell on what we did not do, I think. But here goes…
Saturday I got my daughter to Kung Fu on time, even tho I didn’t even want to leave the house that morning.
Sunday I had a nice family time at a playground.
Had a good band practice on Monday.
I got caught up on a many e-mails that had been waiting.
Flitted around the blogosphere quite a bit. Posted to my own blog twice. Got the new Heather Happymaker tagline header and button up.
Wednesday I sang and played in a fun show and think I got some great video I’ll learn how to put up on Youtube or Vimeo.
I ran 4 times!
I organized and swept the front room.
I got some great lyrics for a 3rd verse to my sister’s song I’ll be singing on May 10th.
I set the date to host a little song-writing seminar for my daughter’s class at school, this coming Tuesday at 2:15.
Trimmed my own bangs a bit.
So, I guess I did accomplish some stuff! I oughta do this exercise every week, thanks.
Jannie Funsters last blog post..Technical woes
@ Jannie — Okay, you shame me:~) I’m impressed with all your accomplishments and in so many areas of your life!!! Also, I enjoyed your list for a different reason…it’s like a picture of your positive energy. I see it like bright and bold colors flashing here and there. It’s a nice thing:~) Also, now I’m very curious about Heather Happymaker. I love this name…it just rolls off the tongue and makes me smile!!
Hi Sara. This is a good exercise to build yourself up. And what I’ve noticed is that when you list all your accomplishments, together they are huge! I did accomplish a lot last week for business, but less in my personal life. So this is also a good exercise to show you where you are out of balance. Thanks!
Davinas last blog post..A Vision of Fulfillment
@ Davina — Perhaps some of your business accomplishments are also your personal accomplishment? Thanks for sharing, Davina :~)
Hi Sara, thanks for the exercise tips.
I believe that writing down our plan on a paper is much better than just imagining it.
Arswinos last blog post..Success is The Path You Choosed
@ Arswino — I agree with you and go a step further…when possible, after writing your plan down, read it out loud…unless it has tons of pages…then writing down IS probably best. I appreciate your thoughts about this post :~)
I want to listen good music!