Recently, I read through the list of achievements of a business friend. It wasn’t an ego trip. Just a simple acknowledgement of the work she’d put in and the satisfaction that comes with that. It was a delightfully positive reflection on just how far she has come in a short period of time.

It got me thinking.

Most of the time we are way too hard on ourselves. As human beings, but perhaps especially as business owners and mothers, we focus far too much on the ever-increasing to do list, rather than on what has already been accomplished.

Of course, we shouldn’t lose sight of our MITs or grow complacent, but it’s just as important to stop and take stock of what has thus far been achieved.

It is an important part of job satisfaction and a huge facet of continued motivation. A positive assessment of the work we’ve done can be a truly powerful affirmation.

So, let’s try something this week:

• Instead of lamenting that our child can’t yet read (mentally adding it to the list of things we need to teach them), perhaps we should take the time to celebrate what they DO know.

• Instead of stressing out about the tasks we have to complete this week, perhaps we should take a moment to remember and express gratitude for the tasks we finished last week.

• Instead of pushing back a cuppa because the floors aren’t done, perhaps we should remember that the washing is on the line or the bathroom has been swept or the verandah tidied, and sit down to that cuppa.

• Instead of feeling anxious about the crates we’re yet to sort in the garage, perhaps we should remember the bags of unneeded goods we’ve already sorted through and donated.