Why is it that we only remember the times when we get things wrong and not when we get them right? Not being a psychologist, I don’t have the answer to that but one thing that I know is that focusing solely on the botch-ups and disasters without analyzing what went wrong and creating an action plan to avoid a repeat performance takes us nowhere.
We do lots of things during the day which are successful but take it for granted without acknowledging it. Each time you complete a task which is a byte to successfully achieving the big picture, it merits an entry in your Success Journal. A cache created to record your achievements on a daily basis to see you through the stormy patches of life.
The Success Journal is a gentle reminder that you are a born winner who is simply experiencing life – and learning. It is a great self management tool to keep up your morale, motivation & self-confidence going when times are rough.
Buy yourself a beautiful notebook or create a file on your computer to write your entries. It’s up to you. The one thing that you need to do is write your journal entering at least 3 things that you completed during the day. By the end of the week you would realize how much you have achieved even if some tasks did not go the way you planned them. It’s in writing and difficult to ignore.
For example, if you are hunting for a job and the interviews are not happening as fast as you would like them or not happening at all, instead of brooding, try writing down what you did get right during the day. Your success journal entry could read as
- Submitted my application letter and resume for ABC Ltd’s vacancy.
- Managed to get through to XYZ head-hunter on the telephone who has agreed to follow up on position. (This one is a great achievement. Those in the job hunting mode will know!)
- Located 3 positions on LinkedIn which match my profile and found connections that can make an introduction for me.
Looking back at the end of the day, you would realise that you have been putting in effort in areas that you can control. You may think up new strategies to put into your To Do List to help you further your goals. Most importantly it will boost your self-confidence and prepare you for battle for the next day.
Do you journalize your successes to boost your morale on a not so good day? Or do you use another strategy? I’d love to read about it in the comments box below!
PS. I’ve created a Self-help and Self-study program Self Confidence in 8 Steps on Kindle. If you are a Do It Yourselfer who wants the guidance but loves to fly solo, then this book is a must check out. Just click here.
Written By: Vatsala Shukla
Journal by Junior Libby
This post was first written on 12th April 2012 and has since been updated.
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