Big and Small—and Enjoy the Journey

It’s easy to get caught up in the mindset that happiness only comes at the finish line. We set big goals, work tirelessly toward them, and think, I’ll celebrate when I get there. But here’s the thing: life isn’t just about the destination. It’s about the steps you take to get there and the moments of joy you allow yourself to feel along the way.

Celebrating both big and small wins—and savoring the journey—can make all the difference between a life you’re rushing through and a life you truly love.

Why Celebrating Wins Matters

Every win, no matter how small, is a building block of progress. When you stop to celebrate, you:

• Acknowledge Your Effort: It’s a way of telling yourself, I’m proud of what I’ve done.
• Build Confidence: Each win reminds you that you’re capable, encouraging you to keep going.
• Stay Motivated: Celebrating keeps the process fun and prevents burnout.

Big wins are exciting, but it’s the small victories that keep you moving forward day by day.

The Trap of “I’ll Be Happy When…”

Have you ever said to yourself, I’ll be happy when I lose 20 pounds, or I’ll celebrate when I hit that big milestone? While focusing on the end goal can be motivating, it can also rob you of joy in the present.

The reality is, if you’re constantly chasing the next thing, you’ll always feel like you’re falling short. The finish line keeps moving, and you miss the magic of what’s happening right now.

How to Celebrate Small Wins

1. Pause and Reflect
   Take a moment to acknowledge what you’ve accomplished, even if it feels small. Did you finish that difficult task you’ve been putting off? Did you show up for yourself today? That’s worth celebrating.
2. Create Mini Rewards
   Treat yourself when you reach a milestone, big or small. It could be as simple as taking a break, enjoying your favorite snack, or doing something you love.
3. Share Your Wins
   Tell a friend, partner, or family member about your progress. Sharing your victories makes them feel even more special.
4. Keep a Win Journal
   Write down one thing you’re proud of each day. Over time, you’ll see how much progress you’ve made, and it’ll inspire you to keep going.

Enjoying the Journey

The journey is where life happens. The late-night brainstorming sessions, the tiny breakthroughs, the lessons you learn when things don’t go as planned—these moments are just as important as the end goal.

Here are some ways to enjoy the process:

• Focus on Growth: Instead of obsessing over the finish line, celebrate how far you’ve come and what you’re learning along the way.
• Stay Present: Don’t let the future steal your attention from what’s happening now. Savor the steps you’re taking today.
• Find Joy in the Little Things: Whether it’s the first sip of coffee while you plan your day or the satisfaction of checking off a task, these small joys make the journey worthwhile.

The Big Wins Will Come, But…

The big moments—publishing that book, landing that dream job, achieving that long-term goal—will come in time. And when they do, they’ll feel amazing. But the real magic lies in everything that happens on the way there.

The small wins, the lessons learned, the relationships built, and the courage it takes to keep showing up—these are what make the big moments so meaningful.

Final Thoughts

Life isn’t just about getting to the top of the mountain; it’s about the climb, the view from halfway up, and the stories you collect along the way. Celebrate your wins—every single one—and remember to enjoy the process.

You’re not just working toward a goal. You’re creating a life. And every step matters.

If you’re ready to start celebrating your wins and designing a life full of purpose and joy, check out my book Life by Design. It’s all about embracing the journey and turning every moment into something meaningful. Pre-order today and take the first step!

Small Choices, Big Changes

What if I told you that the small, seemingly insignificant things you do every day are quietly shaping your entire life? Habits—the routines and actions we repeat without even thinking—are incredibly powerful. They can either work for us, leading us toward the life we want, or against us, keeping us stuck in a cycle we’d rather break.

Why Habits Matter So Much

Habits are the building blocks of your life. They’re like autopilot settings for your brain, freeing up mental energy for more complex decisions. Think about brushing your teeth, making coffee in the morning, or checking your phone (we all do it). These are automatic behaviors, and they add up over time.

The magic of habits lies in their consistency. A single action, like going to the gym once, doesn’t make much of a difference. But doing it three times a week for a year? That’s life-changing.

How Good Habits Create Momentum

Good habits have a compounding effect. Each small step builds on the last, creating momentum that makes change easier over time. It’s like rolling a snowball down a hill—it starts small, but it grows as it keeps moving.

Take something simple like drinking more water. At first, you might need reminders, but after a while, it becomes second nature. Suddenly, you have more energy, better focus, and fewer headaches, all because you made one small choice and stuck with it.

The Downside of Bad Habits

Unfortunately, habits work both ways. Negative habits—like procrastinating, overeating, or doom-scrolling on your phone—can quietly steer you away from your goals. The tricky thing is, bad habits often feel rewarding in the short term, even though they’re harmful in the long run.

But here’s the good news: habits aren’t permanent. They’re patterns, and patterns can be rewritten.

How to Build Better Habits

1. Start Small
   Big changes don’t happen overnight. If you want to start exercising, don’t aim for an hour at the gym right away. Start with 10 minutes of walking. The key is to make it so small it feels easy to stick to.
2. Anchor Habits to Existing Routines
   Tie your new habit to something you already do. For example, if you want to start journaling, do it right after you brush your teeth or drink your morning coffee. This creates a natural trigger for your new habit.
3. Celebrate Small Wins
   Every time you stick to your habit, celebrate it. Give yourself credit, even if it feels silly. This positive reinforcement helps solidify the behavior.
4. Track Your Progress
   Use a habit tracker or journal to record your success. Seeing those checkmarks add up is incredibly motivating.
5. Focus on Identity, Not Outcomes
   Instead of saying, I want to run a marathon, say, I am someone who values fitness. When your habits align with the person you want to become, they’re more likely to stick.

Breaking Bad Habits

If you want to break a habit, you need to understand its trigger. Most bad habits start with a cue—something that prompts the behavior. For example:

• Cue: Feeling stressed.
• Behavior: Eating junk food.
• Reward: Temporary comfort.

To break the cycle, replace the behavior with something healthier, like taking a short walk or journaling your thoughts. The cue and the reward stay the same, but the behavior changes.

Habits and the Life You Design

Habits aren’t just about productivity or achieving goals—they’re about who you’re becoming. The actions you take every day shape your identity over time. If you want to live a life of purpose, fulfillment, and joy, start by building habits that support that vision.

Remember, you don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Small, consistent actions are far more powerful than big, sporadic efforts.

Final Thoughts

The power of habits lies in their ability to make transformation feel effortless. They allow you to turn your aspirations into reality, one small step at a time. So, take a moment to think about the habits you want to build—or break—and start today.

Your habits are the foundation of the life you’re creating. Choose them wisely, and let them work for you, not against you.

If you’re looking for more insights on building habits and designing a life you love, check out my book Life by Design. It’s packed with practical tools to help you take control of your everyday choices and create lasting change. Pre-order now and start designing your best life!

Finding the Positive in Every Chapter of Your Life

Life doesn’t always go the way we plan, and sometimes it throws us challenges that feel impossible to embrace. But what if those challenges weren’t obstacles at all? What if they were actually opportunities to shape the life you want? That’s the heart of Amor Fati, an ancient concept that’s all about loving your fate—not in a passive, “whatever happens, happens” kind of way, but in an active, empowered way that turns life’s curveballs into stepping stones.

What Does Amor Fati Really Mean?

At its core, Amor Fati means loving everything that happens in your life—the good, the bad, and everything in between. But it doesn’t mean sitting back and accepting whatever comes your way. Instead, it’s about looking at every experience and asking yourself, How can I use this? How does this fit into the bigger picture of the life I’m creating?

It’s not about letting life happen to you. It’s about making the most of everything that happens for you.

How It Helps You Design Your Life

When you embrace Amor Fati, you stop seeing challenges as things that derail your plans and start seeing them as opportunities to grow. It’s like having a mindset shift where every experience becomes part of the story you’re writing for yourself.

Let’s say you lose a job, and it feels like the end of the world. It’s easy to spiral into frustration and fear. But what if you paused and asked, What can I take from this? How can I turn this into something better? Maybe losing that job is the push you needed to start your own business or pursue a passion you’ve been putting off.

That’s the power of Amor Fati. It helps you reframe what’s happening and use it to your advantage.

Life Happens for You, Not to You

One of the biggest shifts Amor Fati can bring is the realization that life isn’t out to get you. The challenges, the setbacks, even the heartbreaks—they’re all part of your unique story. When you approach life with the belief that it’s happening for you, not to you, you take back control. You stop feeling like a victim of your circumstances and start becoming the creator of your life.

How to Practice Amor Fati

1. Flip the Script: When something doesn’t go as planned, ask yourself, What can I learn from this? How can this make me stronger?
2. Focus on the Present: Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, look at what’s in front of you right now and ask, How can I make the most of this?
3. Celebrate the Little Things: Gratitude is a big part of Amor Fati. Start appreciating what you have, even while working toward what you want.
4. Keep Moving Forward: Don’t let challenges stop you. Use them as fuel to keep designing the life you want.

Why Amor Fati Isn’t About Giving Up

Some people think Amor Fati is about accepting whatever happens and just going with the flow. It’s not. It’s about owning every part of your journey and using it to build the life you want. It’s about saying, This is my story, and I’m going to make it amazing, no matter what comes my way.

Final Thoughts

Amor Fati teaches us to see life’s experiences—both the good and the bad—as opportunities. It’s a reminder that every chapter in your story has value and that you have the power to turn even the hardest moments into something meaningful. Life isn’t happening to you; it’s happening for you.

So, the next time life throws you a curveball, pause, reflect, and ask yourself: How can I use this to keep designing the life I want?

If you want more ideas like this, check out my book Life by Design. It’s packed with practical tools and insights to help you create a life full of meaning and intention. Pre-order your copy today and start turning every moment into an opportunity!