How are you celebrating success at the end of 2017?

It’s that time of year when, if we have a spare moment, we start to reflect on what’s gone well this year and what has not worked so well. Have you marked out some time to do this yet?

One thing I frequently ask my clients when they achieve great things is “How are you going to celebrate?” And most of the time an answer is not easily to hand.

We need to celebrate more! And there is scientific evidence on the reasons why. In an article by Mark Lukens from The Fast Company it explains why success feels so good. He says “When we succeed at something, our brains release chemical rewards, the most important of which is the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical best known for the role it plays in addiction and drug use. Despite this association, dopamine is a natural part of how our brains function, producing the sensation of pleasure whenever you taste coffee or chocolate, or when you achieve a big win. The dopamine response isn’t just a short-term thing. Our brains remember what it feels like.

So it’s no surprise that dopamine is strongly connected to motivation, driving us to repeat the behaviours that create that rush, even when we aren’t experiencing it. In other words, the dopamine response isn’t just a short-term thing. Our brains remember what it feels like, and we’re driven as a result to seek it out again and again.”

It’s so easy to get caught in to the cycle of achieving one thing after another and then moving on without really having acknowledged what we’ve achieved.

As business owners we are consistently beavering away and yet often beat ourselves up for not doing enough. Not enough newsletters, not enough blogs, not enough on social media, not enough client calls. I know I do this!

One of the visibility coaches I have worked with encouraged me to use this mantra when I feel I should be further ahead: “I am exactly where I need to be right now.”

So what amazing things have you achieved this year? How are you going to celebrate?

I’d like to suggest an exercise which really helped me this week. Take time to reflect and write down all that you have achieved this year. When I did this it brought a big smile to my face. I remembered I’d created an introductory video for my website, I remembered I’d led 3 workshops on The 5 Gears, I remembered I gained my ICF accreditation, I remembered I’d written 11 blogs and realised there was so much I’d forgotten I had achieved. It was such a great reminder.

Do drop me an email with your list and don’t forget to share how you’re going to CELEBRATE! jackie@futurepathlifecoaching.co.uk

I’m currently promoting my new Bird Table group starting in Oxfordshire in January, specifically for women running their own businesses. Let me know if you’re interested in finding out more.