In service of momentum
“I wish I could convince you to stop moving the goalpost and celebrate your accomplishments. It will never be enough - you will never feel like you are enough. In order to feel connected to a positive sense of self we need to acknowledge our accomplishments. And this isn’t at the expense of ambition or motivation - it is in service of momentum.”
Todd Baratz is one of my favourite insta-therapists, if there’s such a thing, and this quote from him made me reflect on an insight I gained from reflecting on some of my accomplishments this year.
Most times when we pray, hope and yearn for people, things or situations, we do not place them in the context of likely events that those desires could be situated in, which can make it difficult to appreciate the moment when it comes.
If I prayed to have a private car, the feeling of that want often supersedes the actual moment of having the car because 1, as humans we adapt quickly to our situations and 2. it is more likely that having a car will be situated within a different context than you were in when you wished for one - maybe you now have a family you need to take care of when you didn’t have one before. Maybe you changed locations and have to drive a further distance. Maybe you lost a job and all you have now is your car. These can and often detract from the feeling of finally having what you wished for.
Mission 8: Recognise the Wins Once Wished For
As someone who grew up quiet/reserved, I remember when my voice used to shake when speaking to any number of people greater than 3 in a non-casual setting.
So, it may not seem like much to anyone else, but I consider it a huge, huge milestone that I was recently able to give a presentation clearly and concisely without stuttering through it. Compared to the awkward silence I received after my university project defence, being tagged as the best presentation by my mentor during my product design internship brought a feeling that I can only describe as the energy everyone should experience in order to be courageous enough to do more, to aim for more and to be confident in your abilities to achieve more.
So this week, I’m revelling more in those accomplishments and recognising the momentum that builds with each one. Another of those is the spiritual community which I wished to have which materialised in the form of the Akanka Design Community. Finding that all the challenges I faced coming into my own spiritual journey had coalesced into this present moment was a beautiful moment and I look forward to the next stages that come after a milestone has been achieved - establishment, commitment & growth.
Are there any present wins you once wished for? How could we take more time to appreciate the journey to this moment?