From Surviving To Thriving

Take a deep breath. Slowly exhale.

Congratulations, you survived another year, and in this case, another decade.

Sometimes it feels like survival. The effort we extol to survive the daily grind not only leaves us tired after a long day, but sometimes frustrated that we just … didn’t get anything done … couldn’t do anything for ourselves … can never seem to get ahead of the curve.

The daily grind is real and it’s easy to get burdened down by it.

But life should not just be about surviving.

While the grind and feeling of “just surviving” isn’t going away, there is something we can do to level the playing field.

Throughout Head Strong, I write about the importance of celebrating every victory, even the small ones that might seem inconsequential. When facing an onslaught of adversity, it’s important to recognize your moments of strength and accomplishment.

As you welcome the new year, make it a habit to focus on your daily “victories,” regardless of how inconsequential they might seem.

Maybe it’s getting the oil changed; calling an old friend; stopping for a cup of coffee at that new café that just opened; or maybe it’s something you planned on doing anyway, but wasn’t sure you’d have the time – the point is, it is something that makes you feel better after having done it.

Consciously force yourself to find and celebrate daily victories. If you’re the journal keeping type, remind yourself of your victories. The important thing is, to give them the importance and weight they deserve.

For most of us, it’s a lot easier to focus on getting those one or two daily victories than trying to adopt an entirely new attitude or outlook on things and making it stick. And the good news is at the end of every month you might have hundreds of little victories, and thousands by the end of the year.

That’s not just surviving. That’s thriving.

On a personal note, it’s been a rough go for me lately. I’ve been dealing with persistent UTIs and blood clots in my bladder, a pressure sore that won’t heal, and compromised breathing from the flu. I’m certainly looking forward to amassing some little victories!

Finally, for those in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area, I will be a guest on The Pulse on WHYY (NPR) this Friday, January 3 at 9 AM. I will also post a link to the show once available.

Until 2020, I wish all of you a healthy and happy new year and an abundance of victories!

Stand Strong!

Scott