CELEBRATE YOUR WINS

There’s a lot of excitement going on in the Groome house this week. Not only for the release of my first book after a very long dry spell, but it’s our middle daughter’s thirteenth birthday. 
I’m excited to celebrate her and as happy as I am to have a new book out, it’s a bit nerve-racking. I mean, social obligations and expectations go along with sending your creativity into the world. It’s why I prefer to focus on someone else’s success or milestones than my own. 
Health and Wellness coach Sonya Looney says, “A lot of people who are achievement-driven struggle with celebrating wins, and they move on to the next thing quickly. Or they’ll invalidate their achievement in some way.”
I can relate! 
My life is a to-do list, checking off what I need to do and then on to the next thing. 
The years of working toward my goal is a blur with raising kids, tending my home, and writing. Lots of writing. I queried stories and even got a three-book contract from a publisher. I thought I was on the road to recovery from an already fragile mindset. Then, my publisher closed, and imposter syndrome took hold of me. What was I doing wrong? I was taking two steps forward, one step back. Would I ever get published again? I had folders of new material and needed help to place them. 
What more could I do?
Write.
I kept writing for my enjoyment. I didn’t stop querying, and I took writing workshops to improve. I also surrounded myself with other creatives, which I recommend as a great mood booster.
All the little things we do to get closer to our goal, add up to achievement. 
Looney reminds us that we are not the person we were when we started a specific goal, and she is so right. I didn’t give up on my dream and got my agent. An agent I am proud to have on my side. She is encouraging and cheers me on. I love her for it. 
As my agent finds a home for my most recent works, I set out to release a contemporary romance series about love, friendships, and second chances.
Playing For Love is book one in the Moonlight Valley series. It’s the series I thought would be traditionally published, but instead, I’m doing it myself. I had such high hopes wanting something bigger and better, but what is that exactly? Doing what you love and accomplishing your goals, big or small, is worth acknowledging. It takes hard work to get to the finish line.
If you haven’t read Sonya Looney’s blog, I recommend you do it for a feel-good read.
Her latest post, The Importance of Small Wins, is about acknowledging personal achievements and how to celebrate them. 
“The reality is that they are the building blocks, the steps, the brush strokes to building a masterpiece. No one suddenly has a big, flashy achievement. They are the many steps to get there that build resilience and character, not the achievement itself.”
For authors, it’s not just about writing a story; it’s about all the other go-with-it’s that take time and effort to get from point A to B. It takes a lot of work and dedication like any passion turned career. It has your focus. When you get to where you want to be, it’s up to you to recognize it and be proud of how far you’ve come.
“Making sure you are noting and celebrating these wins regularly will fuel the fire and your momentum,” says Looney.  
So, if you’ve crossed the finish line, I’m cheering for you. Baby steps equal achievement, and that’s something to be proud of. 
Our wins this week qualify for having two cakes!
 
Want to learn more about celebrating your wins? Check out Sonya’s blog:
https://sonyalooney.com/the-importance-of-small-wins/
 
 
 
Until next time,
Find your happy, live your dreams.
 
Charlene