Some people struggle to see the value in their small achievements. Some believe that only big accomplishments matter, while others compare their progress to others and feel like they’re falling behind. It’s important to keep in mind that celebrating even the smallest wins is a resilience building strategy that can lead to lasting growth.
The Celebrate Small Wins handout introduces five practical ways to honor progress, no matter how small they may seem. It encourages clients to notice daily accomplishments, acknowledge their effort, and see these wins as stepping stones, not just items to check off. Each idea also invites them to feel more connected to their goals.
Learning to pause and appreciate small wins can boost confidence and motivation in young people. A simple way to make this practice more meaningful is by recording wins in a small notebook or marking them on a calendar.
To add fun and creativity, caring adults can help kids set up a monthly progress snapshot, where kids and teens reflect on their achievements over the past month through drawings, photos, or short voice recordings.
*This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of trauma worksheets.
References:
- Navne, D. E., & Skovdal, M. (2021). ‘Small steps and small wins’ in young people’s everyday climate crisis activism. Children's Geographies, 19(3), 309-316. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2021.1887817
- Sterzinger, N. K. (2019). Good teaching: How small wins in the classroom can lead to big wins for education (Master’s thesis, The University of Arizona). The University of Arizona.
- Vermaak, H. (2013). Planning deep change through a series of small wins. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2013(1), 10947. https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2013.68
