Accomplishments

When we hear the word accomplishment, we often think of things like certifications, degrees, and job promotions.  I looked up the definition of the word, and the one I like best is the successful completion of a task. 

If someone asks me how my weekend was, I immediately think of the things I did (or did not) do.  I feel like any productive day equals a good day, and the same goes for the weekend.  Although downtime is something we all need from time to time, I find that for me, productivity is much more satisfying than sitting around.

The things I get done may be small things: I vacuumed, cleaned out a closet, pulled weeds from the flowerbed, washed my car, helped someone with something, or went for a walk.  I don’t know about you, but I like how I feel when I complete a task. Each time I open the refrigerator (which is probably too often), I swell with pride over the fine job I did of washing out the crisper drawers. Okay, I’m exaggerating, but I do like that they’re clean.

Too often, we judge ourselves harshly when it comes to our accomplishments. We tend to beat ourselves up over what we haven’t accomplished rather than congratulating ourselves for the things we have.

Perception is a powerful thing, and sometimes a small change in the way we look at things can be the sole reason for how happy we feel. Don’t concentrate on the big stuff you didn’t get done; focus on all of the little things you DID get done.

So far, today: I cleaned the drawers in the refrigerator. I wrote a blog post (even though it’s short). I washed the dishes.

None of those things will change the course of history, but I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot . . . and I did all before noon.