The Power of Small Wins

On Unlearning the Hustle, Reclaiming Wins & Personal Celebration

I’ve been unlearning the unhealthy habit of rushing past my wins like they’re no big deal.

From early jobs and horrible managers, I was told I needed to be humble, keep my head down, and move on to the next thing without celebrating my wins. I know I’m not the only one who was told celebrating individual wins wasn’t good for the collective team.

We’re conditioned to grind. To chase. To keep pushing for the next milestone like that’s when the “real” success starts. But, I know if you never pause to recognize the good that’s already happening, you’ll miss the entire point of the journey.

We tend to throw parties for the big wins. The graduation. The promotion. The product launch. The baby. The wedding. The new house. The book deal. And yes, those are worth celebrating, but what about the smaller things?

What about the quiet, steady, invisible progress that doesn’t get a round of applause?

What about showing up when you didn’t feel like it?

What about resting when you usually push through?

What about the day you said no because you finally respected your own boundaries?

What about the fact that you’re still here, still trying, still growing?

That’s worth something, too.

I love the “10% better” mindset. It’s simple and powerful. You don’t have to overhaul your life in one dramatic swoop. You just have to make a small shift today. And, then another tomorrow. Little by little, you continue to improve. You get better.

The same goes for joy. You don’t have to wait for a life-altering event to decide to be a little happier, or proud or grounded.

Dan Harris talks about this beautifully in his book 10% Happier. He discovered that even small shifts in mindset and practice could lead to real transformation. Not perfection. Not bliss. Just a 10% improvement, and that’s enough to change your life.

Imagine how your day would feel if you were ten percent more present, joyful, at ease or full of laughter.

When you start giving yourself permission to celebrate the small wins, you start to build a life that feels full. The more you acknowledge those moments, the more they multiply. It’s not fluff. It’s fact. What you focus on grows.

If you wait to feel proud until you “arrive,” you might miss the beauty of how far you’ve already come.

You’re not behind. You’re not late. You’re becoming.

The journey itself is the proof.

Celebrate now. Let joy in now. You don’t need a confetti cannon to do it, although confetti makes every celebration better. It’s as simple as speaking life over yourself. Smiling at your own reflection. Texting your best friends, “Sis! I did that.” Lighting that good candle you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Buying yourself flowers because you finished something you’ve been putting off.

These moments matter.

Celebrate them. Collect them. Let them remind you of who you are.

Joy is not a reward for perfection. It’s the fuel that keeps you going.

And it’s available right now. Not someday. Not later.

Now.