I work with many high-achieving adults who set big goals and reach them. But as soon as they do, they’re ready to move the goalpost and get back to work on the next thing. They don’t want to pause long enough to celebrate or even acknowledge all the effort and energy that brought them to this moment.

Take my client “Jada,” an owner and CEO of an investment company who recently met her annual goal to expand internationally six months early. As soon as she mentioned this win, she was ready to move on and create a new goal to acquire a foreign competitor. When I stopped her to ask how she was going to celebrate the original milestone of expanding internationally, her face looked as though I had asked her how she was going to travel to the moon later that day. Not only had it not occurred to her to celebrate, but she also had no idea what celebrating wins even looked like.

Celebrating wins is essential for maintaining motivation and improving overall life satisfaction. Research shows that recognizing small successes activates the brain’s reward system, which releases dopamine and reinforces positive behavior. This process fosters a sense of accomplishment and progress and boosts self-efficacy and self-esteem. Thus, when people celebrate their achievements, they are more likely to remain motivated and pursue........

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