Big wins vs. small wins?
The authors refer to the book ‘Feeling Good’ by Dr David Burns, which stresses the importance of keeping track of, reflecting on and celebrating not just our major achievements, but also our more minor ones. They go on to argue that small wins (often achieved when we break down large tasks or goals into more discrete manageable steps) in our personal life can keep us all feeling good.
“A number of studies have found that major life events seldom have lasting effects on subjective well-being. For instance, winning the lottery does not usually make people happy over the long run. But… regular minor boosts from ordinary activities can have a cumulative and lasting effect.” It’s a philosophy that underpins our ’Positive Thinking’ and ‘Emotional Strength’ SpeedTraining ‘bite-size’ workshops, amongst others.
So, yes it’s fun to while away a few minutes speculating on the luxury lifestyle that could be yours, if only your numbers had come up. But if you really want to be happier, it is far more healthy – and life-enhancing - to notice and truly celebrate those small triumphs and successes that you have achieved in your everyday life.