“Celebrate the accomplishment; be inspired by the journey and the lesson!”
Accomplishment is a wonderful experience. We achieve, we celebrate and then we move on. Unfortunately, the moving on part is not always easy. Now that we have realized a success, what’s next?
In this graduation season, we witness people celebrating a great achievement. They did the work, put in their time, and have been recognized for it. Now what? Graduation is not the end; it is merely a step toward another beginning. After graduation everyone moves on to the next stage in their lives.
Like graduation, most of our achievements are celebrations…
…successfully running a marathon or completing that 10K race
…achieving a weight target or overcoming a health issue
…getting that promotion or finally landing that new job
Regardless of what we are celebrating, eventually we have to get back into our “routine” and get busy. That is the harsh reality of any achievement – we don’t get to stop and celebrate for long.
There is an element of achievement that is often lost in this process. It is the lesson of the experience associated with our accomplishment. While we often remember and internalize the euphoria and celebration of our achievements, the more powerful takeaway is the lessons in the experience.
Achievement does not simply come by accident. Attainment of a goal or realization of a vision involves time, commitment, and focus. Getting to any outcome involves a consistent effort toward that goal. Every single day brings a new experience, a different challenge, and a unique obstacle. With each new adventure comes an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop. Without these experiences, these challenges and these lessons, the accomplishment would not be as rewarding or incredible. It is through our success in adversity that we appreciate and celebrate our accomplishments.
The next time you find yourself creating a vision for your success and begin to craft a roadmap for that desired outcome, remember how you accomplished and succeeded before. Every one of us has something that we can look back on and celebrate. In that accomplishment is the lesson of experience. In that outcome, there is also confidence and ability.
Every one of us has accomplished a great deal in your life. We all have successes and achievements that we are proud of and enjoy reflecting upon. While we cannot go back and relive those moments, we can reflect on what we learned and did in order to achieve and celebrate. Those are the lessons that can inspire and drive you forward today.
Every celebration, every achievement, and every accomplishment is the result of a focused and committed effort. It is the result of hard work and time and overcoming obstacles. That is the lesson from the outcome. While you may not be able to stay on the mountain and celebrate your achievement for long, the lessons and the confidence of the experience will drive you forward to the next one. They are also what inspires you to engage and celebrate your normal and routine life every single day.
