As the end of the year approaches, many people focus on what they did not achieve. “I should have done more”, “I did not achieve my goals” – these are thoughts that often appear in our heads. What if we looked at the past year from a different perspective?

Instead of focusing on shortcomings, it is worth appreciating successes – both large and small.

Why is it so important for our mental health, personal development and self-esteem?

Self-confidence grows with each success:

Every achieved goal, even a small one, is a building block of our self-confidence. Appreciating your own successes changes the internal dialogue from “I can’t do it” to “I can and I will do it again”. Noticing small steps, such as a calmer reaction to a difficult situation, helps us see our impact on life. Every success, even the smallest, is proof that you have agency and the ability to act.

Less stress, more inner peace:

Our subconscious mind often focuses on problems, not solutions. Stopping to notice what has already been achieved activates the reward system in the brain, which increases dopamine – the feel-good hormone. This helps reduce stress and cope better with challenges. Thanks to this, you can catch your breath, feel that life is not just a race, and celebrate small victories.

Motivation for change and action:

When we celebrate successes, we strengthen the desire to continue. Our mind likes rewards, so when you realize that you have done something well, the need to continue is automatically strengthened. The brain learns that effort brings results, which drives the process of changing habits and motivates you to new challenges.

Reflection as a key skill of personal development:

Without reflection on successes, it is difficult to develop personally. Why? Because it is easy to miss progress. Without this stopping and “summing up”, our subconscious continues to work on autopilot.

During therapy and personal development, I often encourage people to ask: “What have I achieved this week/month/year?”

This question engages mindfulness and strengthens your sense of agency. We learn to notice not only great achievements, such as a promotion or a new job, but also those “invisible successes” – changing beliefs, coping better with stress or the courage to say “no”.

Appreciating your own successes is not a luxury, but a necessity. Every success – small or large – is proof of your agency, strength and ability to change. This year, instead of looking at what is missing, make a list of your achievements and feel proud of yourself. This is the best foundation for the New Year.

Beata

#Personal Development #Reflection #Self-Confidence #Motivation #Successes #Mindfulness #Therapy #Hypnotherapy