‘Small wins’ have great power to help us focus on positive goals – Orange County Register

Good good good. Literally, before writing this column, I discovered the instructions inside the microwave that I have been using for over 18 months. While I made a good enough guess, it would certainly be nice to know more precisely how long three potatoes take to cook or the time it takes to reheat a serving for one.

Those are what I call “miracle moments” and I want to acknowledge or celebrate them because they make up my day.

According to a recent survey, it was determined that since the start of the pandemic, Americans have become more conscious of the joys of small victories like finding the unexpected money or finishing watching a TV series. long episode.

Yes, you are gone. It seems to me that I am in good company because almost 90% feel that it is more entitled to acknowledge “wins” and celebrate them than it was in the pre-pandemic days. Small wins dominate the game, and what may be a small win for one person can be a big win for another.

It was also reported that none of the wins were “too small”, such as finding a parking spot. Depending on where you live, that could be considered a “big win”. In Laguna Woods Village, we were lucky enough to have parking; however, if we visit one of our famous seaside cities, it is a different story.

How to celebrate the little things? Telling family and friends is arguably my favorite way to enjoy this moment.

I definitely enjoy sharing my little victories with others to relive the joy when it happened in the first place. The more I noticed them, the more often they appeared. That’s a regular big win in my book. Speaking of books, I also record victories in my daily journal entries.

From the survey list of the most gratifying little moments, my favorites include hearing new music for the first time, hitting a savings goal, trying an unfamiliar food for the first time, completing a spontaneous activity. Take care of yourself and my very favorite option: correct a typo before hitting submit.

When it comes to self-care, spending quality time with loved ones tops the list of precious moments without knowing the “despise” right behind it.

Psychologists believe that paying attention to small successes is necessary to achieve larger goals in life. Thinking that premise holds true, along with tweaking for small wins, helps keep our minds focused on the positive.

I just have one thought to add. In honor of Valentine’s Day this month, could you call the small victories “love in action”? Then we are celebrating Happy Hearts day every day, not just on February 14th.

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a resident of Laguna Woods Village. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.