One of the things I decided to be intentional about this year was celebrating my wins, no matter how big or small.

It may seem like a simple and obvious thing to do, but I often find it easy to overlook my achievements and move on to the next task in the endless pursuit of finishing my to-do list. As I result I sometimes lose sight the progress I’ve made when times get tough and lose confidence and/or motivation.

I’ve come to understand and accept that progress isn’t always linear, so celebrating even the small things along my journey helps to remind me that I am growing and moving forward – even if it doesn’t seem like it. As a result, I’m able to push through setbacks with more confidence.

I am an anxious overthinker and prone to self-doubt, so celebrating my wins is a way to validate myself and what I’ve done. It shows that I am making things happen and strengthens my self-belief that I can do even more.

This week, I was excited to share that I am one of the judges for the Ink Book Prize for self-published authors. I’d been sitting on the news for a while, as I couldn’t share it publicly. But anytime I felt down, overwhelmed or questioned my current circumstances, I reminded myself of this piece of good news.

I have been blogging about books for nearly 14 years and never envisioned being a book prize judge. It’s an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity, and I’m enjoying my role in amplifying the voices of self-published authors and the sector as a whole.

In addition, I’m very much looking forward to celebrating my next milestone.

So, whether you landed a new client (hopefully, that will be me soon!), wrote something amazing, or stuck to a new habit for a week. Take a moment to acknowledge it and reflect on what got you there. Then, treat yourself and share your good news with others.

Your wins matter, and so do you!