Conquer Any Obstacle With This Mindset Hack

The Ride of A Lifetime

In the spring of 2023, Wes and I signed up for a 115-mile cycling race through the mountains of North Carolina. What were we thinking? Honestly, we weren’t thinking. We were young, in love, and maybe a little too confident.

For months, we trained and prepared. Finally, the big day arrived. Wes—practically the Energizer Bunny and a veteran ultra-marathoner—was ready. This is a guy who’s run 40+ miles in one go and completed an Ironman triathlon. Me? Let’s just say my athletic résumé consisted of a single 5K… ever.

I wasn’t competitive. I didn’t care about podiums or records—I just wanted to survive and maybe stop to pick some wildflowers along the way. But there I was, ready to take on one of the most grueling challenges of my life.
It was exhausting and beautiful. That day taught me about grit, perseverance, and partnership. But it also revealed a secret weapon for tackling even the loftiest goals: celebrating small wins.

Why Celebrating Small Wins Matters

It’s tempting to focus solely on the big picture—crossing the finish line, paying off the mortgage, or landing your dream job. But the truth is, success isn’t built in one big leap. It’s crafted through small, consistent victories.

In that cycling race, thinking about all 115 miles felt impossible. But breaking it down into manageable chunks—just getting to the next rest stop—was doable. Rest stops became my lifeline. Every 20–25 miles, I’d dismount my bike, hydrate, eat my weight in watermelon, and high-five Wes. Those moments recharged me, both physically and mentally.

By focusing on small milestones, I stayed motivated. The same principle applies to your goals. You don’t have to conquer the whole mountain at once—just make it to the next checkpoint.

A Biblical Perspective on Small Wins

In his book, Your Best Year Ever, Michael Hyatt points out something that struck me deeply. Most of us are familiar with the creation story and know that God rested on the seventh day to celebrate His completed work. But what’s often overlooked is that God didn’t wait until the very end to pause and reflect. At the close of each day, He took a moment to admire His work and declare it good.

Realizing that was significant to me, because I struggle to pause and appreciate progress. When I’m laser-focused on a big goal, it’s hard to pry myself away. But this constant drive can lead to dissatisfaction and a treadmill effect—where the target keeps moving, and you never feel like you’ve arrived.

Celebrating small wins reminds us to pause, acknowledge progress, and realize that we are making strides. It’s not about stopping the journey—it’s about renewing your joy and focus for the road ahead.

Practical Steps to Celebrate Small Wins

Here’s how you can harness this mindset to make progress on any goal:

1. Check in regularly

• Take time to reflect on your progress. Daily, weekly, or monthly reviews will help you stay aligned and focused.

• Identify what’s working and celebrate it—no matter how small.

2. Break your goals into bite-sized chunks
   

• Instead of focusing on the end result, think about what you can do today.

• For example, if you’re training for a race, focus on completing this week’s workouts—not the entire training plan.

3. Celebrate progress, not perfection
   

• Remember, perfection isn’t the goal—progress is. Celebrate every step forward, even if it feels minor.

4. Automate success with activation triggers
   

• Make achieving your goals as effortless as possible by setting up systems that remove decision fatigue. For example, automate investments so you don’t even have to think about saving for the future—it just happens.

• Set alarms as reminders for daily habits. I have alarms throughout the day that signal me to stop, drop, and burpee. (Yes, burpees!) My brilliant mistake? Telling the kids what the alarms were for. Now they never let me skip, and they often join me. We giggle and all get moving together.

• Simplify your environment to support success. Prep meals in advance, schedule recurring appointments for important tasks, or set out your gym clothes the night before to make mornings easier.

Fueling Your Progress

Celebrating small wins isn’t just about feeling good—it builds momentum. When you pause to acknowledge progress, your brain gets a boost of dopamine, which increases motivation and confidence.

In that cycling race, those rest stops were my lifeline. Knowing I’d get to celebrate every 20 miles kept me going through the toughest climbs—like the Cherohala Skyway’s 22-mile ascent. Each watermelon slice, hug from Wes, and breathtaking mountain view was a small reward that pushed me toward the finish line.

Start Now—No Perfect Moment Needed

You don’t have to wait for January 1st or some magical time to start working toward your goals. Wes and I actually began our 2025 goals last November 30th—we were too excited to wait!

If you’ve fallen off track, missed a deadline, or feel overwhelmed, don’t stress. Start where you are, and take the next step forward.

If you need motivation, support, or someone to celebrate your small wins with, drop a comment below. I'll be your cheerleader!

Remember: progress, not perfection, is the goal. Celebrate every small win—that's your secret weapon to achieving something big.

Want to Read Along? Get Your Books Here!

Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

---

DISCLAIMER: Some of the above links may be affiliate links, meaning if you purchase a product or service via these links I may receive a small commission/reward, at no additional charge to you!