Release Fear and Overwhelm: Keep a Success Journal

success journal

Paper is to write things down that we need to remember. Our brains are used to think. - Albert Einstein

There are few things I know about having an online business. It’s easy for me to feel constantly overwhelmed; the learning curve for technology never ends. Social media is 24/7. There is always a task left unfinished or a new project brewing.

At the end of the day, I’ve learned to say enough and stop at a decent hour. I let what’s unfinished go. It will be there tomorrow, I tell myself.

I remember these same feelings as a young mother. I was 22 years old with four daughters. I was in constant motion with the everyday never-ending work it takes to be a parent and run a household.

I often had to overlook dirty dishes, a messy car and mismatched clothes. At the end of the day, I had to say ‘enough’ and let what didn’t get done go.

No matter what your job, a constant sense of overload can cause stress, illness, workaholism, fear of failure or relationship problems.

When we don’t stop and reflect on our accomplishments and successes we often feel like we’re not enough, we don’t do enough and we don’t have enough.

The best thing we can do in today’s information age is give ourselves positive reinforcement and positive recognition by recording what we did right and what went right in a success journal.

Doing so has allowed me the freedom to shut off my electronics at a decent hour every evening. On weekends I balance time spent on social media with hiking, going to movies and festivals and other enjoyable offline activities.

There’s simply no room for fear.

I can do these things guilt-free without feeling I’m missing something or being left behind.

Other benefits of recording your success

An increased sense of self-esteem and self-confidence

Life is brighter and lighter when you recognize your brilliance and power

The opportunity to celebrate big and small accomplishments

A prolonged focus on what you get right versus what you get wrong

You build momentum for your future goals

Increased energy and enthusiasm

A head full of positive thoughts and feelings of success before falling asleep

An accumulative effect on your self-worth

An increased ability to tackle big problems without doubt

You create a life-long feel-good habit

Increased self-love when you give yourself the credit you deserve

Your journal serves as an instant pick-me-up when you make mistakes or fail

Create a sacred ritual

Buy a special journal and pen

Decide if you will write in the morning or evening

Light a candle and play quiet music

Record your successes at the same time every day

End your time with gratitude and self-praise

Choose to reward yourself at the end of every week

Keeping a success journal allows you to enjoy the journey rather than always being future oriented, chasing a goal or dream. 

When you celebrate your success every day, you strive less and thrive more. You breathe easier and create more good times for yourself.  You are at peace with yourself and the online world.

I believe everything is better when shared. Help me spread the word on Facebook and Twitter below. 

{ 11 comments… add one }

  • Katie January 19, 2014, 8:14 pm

    Great idea! I’ve tried other journals- gratitude, personal, busness, financial- but never thought of a success journal! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Tess January 21, 2014, 12:33 pm

      Katie,
      Let me know how it goes for you!

      Reply
  • Sandra Pawula January 19, 2014, 10:00 pm

    Dear Tess,

    It’s so true that there are endless things that could be done in the blogosphere. We have to have the good sense to stop or we’ll just exhaust ourselves. I love the way you link this to the idea of keeping a success journal! It feels so encouraging to focus on what we’ve accomplished rather than to fret on what’s left undone. I love this idea!

    Reply
    • Tess January 21, 2014, 12:33 pm

      Sandra,
      Thanks for your always being my friend. I appreciate your kind words and support.

      Reply
  • Michelle January 19, 2014, 11:04 pm

    “Strive less and thrive more”. LOVE it! Thank you for planting the seeds for my success journal fairy godsister! :-)

    Reply
    • Michelle January 19, 2014, 11:08 pm

      Eeek. I need to take your advice and go to bed at a decent hour. :-o Kindly insert comma between journal and fairy. Or maybe I just need to let typos go… :-D

      Reply
      • Tess January 21, 2014, 12:32 pm

        Michelle,
        Yes do go to bed at a decent hour and yes let my typos go!

        Reply
  • Patrik Edblad January 20, 2014, 8:41 am

    I second this awesome advice, Tess. I’ve been keeping a journal as part of my evening routine for some time now and it has really helped me focus on the right things. What I do is write down my biggest lessons and quotes, 1-3 I’m proud of and 3 things I’m grateful for. Research has shown that doing these kind of simple exercises can actually rewire your brain to scan the world for the positive, rather than the negative, first. And a positive mindset is linked to all kinds of awesome effects such as increased happiness, learning, memory and even better health and increased longevity. :)

    Reply
    • Tess January 21, 2014, 12:31 pm

      Patrick,

      You’re amazing. Thanks for sharing your research and routine with us. Happy New Year!

      Reply
  • iHanna January 23, 2014, 10:44 am

    It’s a huge success to simply say to yourself that you’re FINISHED for the day and that you did a good job even if you didn’t finish the entire to do-list, because, like you said, it’s impossible. :-) Love this idea! Will journal weekly success tonight.

    Reply
  • Robert January 28, 2014, 7:05 am

    Hi Tess, I love your ideas to release fear and overwhelm. I also like to take several short breaks during the day where I meditate or simply relax for a few minutes and completely let go of everything that’s somehow related to work or business – this really helps a lot.

    Reply

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