Measuring Backward: Celebrating Your Journey of Growth
In the world of personal and spiritual growth, we tend to put a lot of emphasis on moving forward, setting goals, and striving to become our ideal selves. Especially now, towards the end of the year. But let me share something that has been a game-changer with my clients: the power of measuring backward. Instead of always reaching for an idealized future, we're going to delve into the incredible impact of measuring backward, celebrating achievements, and stepping away from the relentless pursuit of goals.
The Pitfalls of Forward Measurement
Many individuals find themselves trapped in the cycle of perpetual goal-setting. Whether it's aiming for enlightenment, professional success, or overcoming personal challenges, the constant comparison to an ideal often leads to feelings of inadequacy and scarcity. The focus on what is yet to be achieved can overshadow the progress made and perpetuate a sense of never being enough.
By always measuring forward and falling short of the envisioned goal, we inadvertently cultivate feelings of fear, anxiety, and perpetual striving. This mindset hinders abundance, the ability to appreciate the present moment, and the growth that has already taken place.
The Power of Measuring Backward
The concept of measuring backward encourages you to reflect on your journey, acknowledging and celebrating the progress made. Instead of solely focusing on the next goal, taking the time to look back without ego can provide valuable insights. This approach allows for a genuine assessment of achievements, building a positive mindset and gratitude for the journey already traveled.
Celebrating the Journey
The act of celebration is often overlooked in the relentless pursuit of new goals. Creating a list of achievements alongside a list of goals can serve as a powerful tool for self-reflection. Regularly revisiting this list and celebrating both small and significant accomplishments can lead to a positive shift in mindset.
This practice is not about ego or bragging but about embracing a high vibrational frequency and rewiring the mind for abundance.
Usually, we struggle with slowing down to celebrate. Most of us are guilty of just focusing on checking off items on our list and not looking back. Or if we look back we tend to beat ourselves up about the things that didn’t go as planned. Overcoming this resistance requires a shift in mindset. By incorporating regular celebrations into your journey, you can break free from the cycle of constant striving and scarcity.
Your Measuring Backward Exercise
This practice is an invitation to enjoy the process and acknowledge the beauty of the present moment.
Start running a list of both celebrations and goals.
On one side track your achievements, no matter how small - these celebrations provide a tangible reminder of growth.
On the other side of the list track your goals, and dreams, especially the ones that you don’t dare to speak out loud.
Regularly revisit and update your list. I do it monthly, just to keep track of those little things that I tend to forget.
With this practice, you're rewiring yourself and shifting to a mindset where what you focus on is what you create more of. So if you focus more on celebrating your achievements, you'll have more things to celebrate. You create more abundance.
For everyone I know who has started this practice, myself included, it has been enlightening to sit down and look at the list after a given time. I think I have a list of like 100 things that I've accomplished this year that I never thought I would accomplish.
So, especially right now, when the year comes to an end I encourage you to challenge the norm, slow down, savor the journey, find joy, and celebrate the milestones along the way.