When we are on a journey to make our lives better it can be tempting to focus on what we haven’t yet achieved.  If you are trying to shed your muffin top you might be tempted to criticize yourself for only losing one pound this week rather than two or three.  Why?  You aren’t the same person you were a week ago.  You lost one pound!  You made the decision to love yourself enough to get healthier, you have evidence of it too, so I say acknowledge your progress.

If you don’t take the time to acknowledge your progress life can feel like a labor camp.  I believe in discipline for health.  It is too easy in our world to soothe our inner wounds with junk food and alcohol.  I know because I used to do it a lot.  I don’t have a problem with junk food and alcohol that are used in celebration.  I do have a problem with toxic food and drinks that are used to numb us to life…which is what most people are doing most of the time.

While I admire many principles of the Eastern philosophies, I notice a lack of excitement about life in general.  While not getting upset about life challenges is in my opinion a good trait, not getting too excited about unexpected blessings is a missed opportunity.  As human beings we are meant to experience and express a full range of emotions.  I want to be excited and surprised and overjoyed!  As usual, here I am pulling my favorite parts of one tradition out to create a life approach that is all my own.  I want us to feel excited anticipation!  I want us to celebrate our progress.  I want us to celebrate the little things.

My life is practically unrecognizable to what it was six years ago.  Certainly I see evidence on the outside that my body is much more fit, my skin is clear and glowing, but the biggest changes have occurred within me, in the way my mind operates and engages with stimuli.  Six years ago I was reactionary.  I assumed that life happened to me.  I was often scared by what life might throw at me.  Now?  Ha!  Totally new perspective and one I so want you to have.  Life is happening for us, not to us.  Everything that shows up is designed for you to grow.  Now that I know that, I don’t fret the snafus and the changes of plan.  I don’t fret health challenges or car problems.  I just go with it knowing I will learn or grow from it.

I have also learned to celebrate my progress knowing that perfection is something I will not achieve until my role in the game of life is over and I return to a state of pure energy.  I celebrate that I don’t need to change anyone’s mind anymore.  I am the captain of my ship, not yours, but as I’ve been at sea for a while, I am happy to help you figure out your best navigational route.  I celebrate that I am still enough even if this book is never finished or if virtually no one buys it.  I celebrate that after 6 years I am not just surviving but thriving in life!  Even two years ago I would have been walking on egg shells about always making the right decision for my health.

If you don’t make time to celebrate where you are and how far you’ve come, how will you ever feel joy?  So what if you haven’t crossed the finish line yet.  You are on your way.  Even if you’ve only taken one step today, it’s still farther than you went yesterday.  Life is the journey, not the destination.  Take a few moments when you come upon a beautiful overlook to stop and appreciate you and the journey of transformation you are on.  That’s the good stuff, please don’t miss it by always thinking of what you haven’t yet achieved.