Have you ever wondered why life feels like a race? Even on ordinary days? From the moment the first breath was taken, we move from one race to the next, meeting deadlines, aiming for targets, panicking about what comes next, and under persistent pressure to achieve more. While we find ourselves in this endless pursuit, we forget to take a moment to celebrate the little wins that make life worth living.

In today’s fast-paced world, society has limited general achievements to newborn delivery, graduation, marriage, a new home, recovery from illness, and landing a good job. But, small wins matter. Learning a new skill, completing a habit, or simply having a clearer morning are victories that boost mood, confidence, and overall mental well-being. Acknowledging and celebrating these small achievements can truly transform your day-to-day life.

One of the mistakes many people make is waiting for a big moment before they celebrate anything. People often put achievements on a scale and assume only the loud, visible, and dramatic milestones deserve any form of joy. Some people even need external validation to feel like they are trying or doing well, which makes it harder for them to acknowledge the quiet progress they make on ordinary days.

While our levels of achievement and the way we react to each one is personal, every achievement, no matter how little, deserves recognition and acknowledgment. Celebrating oneself is not bragging, it is emotional self-care. Small actions and tiny wins have a way of improving one’s mood, confidence, and overall well-being in unnoticeable ways.

These milestones naturally attract collective joy, but while they exist, people still tend to overlook many smaller victories that genuinely shape their day. And those ordinary days deserve joy too.

However, a major reason people find it hard to celebrate small wins today is the strong influence of social media and the culture of public validation that comes with it. Social media platforms like Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin, have helped users magnify their success stories. Almost everybody on these platforms celebrate achievements ranging from promotions, luxury purchases, engagements, travel experiences, and significant life announcements.

These people do not often post about the processes, the sleepless nights, the failures, doubts, and maintaining consistency in positive habits. In light of this, many individuals gradually, knowingly or unknowingly, begin to compare their progress to the online versions of other people’s lives.

Constant exposure to the ‘big wins’ that others narrate on social media, make many people believe that everyone else is achieving bigger, faster, and better things while their own journey feels slow. This comparison quietly rubs people of their happiness, resulting in depression. Instead of acknowledging personal growth, people feel left behind, inadequate, or pressured to achieve something “worthy” to be celebrated in public.

Research by psychologist Teresa Amabile and researcher Steven Kramer, authors of The Progress Principle, reveals that one of the most significant motivators for people is simply making progress in meaningful work. According to their findings, “Of all the things that can boost emotions, motivation, and perceptions during a workday, the single most important is making progress in meaningful work.” This simply means that daily wins are strong drivers of satisfaction and motivation, no matter how small they appear.

According to psychiatrist Judson Brewer, positive reinforcement through small rewards helps strengthen habits because the brain learns to associate effort with satisfaction. The neurological explanation for celebrating little wins states that when people recognize achievements, the brain releases dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure, learning, and motivation. This highlights that appreciating little progress has an impact on boosting growth and consistency.

Appreciating little wins also strengthens self-worth. It allows individuals to see themselves as their own source of encouragement instead of depending on people’s validations. When an individual boldly says, “I am proud of myself for trying,” they build emotional resilience. They become less shaken by criticism and less dependent on validation.

Practically, celebrating little wins can be as simple as taking a pause to reflect on what went well during the day, tracking achievements, sharing progress with families or a trusted friend, rewarding oneself with rest, or expressing gratitude. These small acknowledgments reinforce the idea that effort matters.