Here’s an idea I’ve been thinking about today (and yep, it’s definitely going in my notebook): one sticker for every win! What does that mean? Let me explain.
The thought on an evening stroll in Bern, Switzerland
A few years back, I was at a conference where someone spoke about the science of happiness. They introduced this concept called Negativity Bias. If you’re an overthinker like me, you’re probably already familiar with the idea. Basically, it’s when negative thoughts or experiences weigh more heavily on us than the positive stuff—even when the positive is bigger or more important. So, you could be having a great day, but one random comment will ruin it. Ring any bells? Yeah, same here.
We’ve all got a little Negativity Bias in us. Some of us feel it more intensely than others, but let’s be real—none of us are totally immune. The tricky part is, you can’t always control when those negative thoughts show up or how much space they’ll take up in your brain. Suddenly, all the good things you’ve done or experienced seem to disappear, like they never even happened.
Now, let’s talk about achievements—the kind of stuff we love to obsess over, especially toward the end of the year. How many times have you caught yourself thinking, “What have I even done this year?” or worse, “Everyone else is out there crushing it, and I haven’t achieved anything.”
Yeah, I’m that person. Every. Single. Year.
But something clicked for me this morning. I remembered that whole Negativity Bias thing, and it hit me: what if I’m just not remembering all the things I’ve actually achieved because the negative stuff has been hogging all the attention? Surely, I’ve done something worth celebrating, right? So why can’t I remember it?
That’s when I decided I needed a plan. From now on, I’m going to mark my notebook with a sticker for every little win. You might call it a journal if that’s your thing, or maybe for you, it’s an Instagram story or a TikTok video—whatever floats your boat. I have friends who document their wins on social media, and honestly, I think that’s pretty cool too.
Even if it’s something as small as waking up a bit earlier than usual. Or managing to skip coffee for a week (and no, I’m not going to downplay that achievement just because I didn’t make it to eight days!). Or finally tackling the laundry before it becomes a giant heap of chaos.
Those wins mattered when I achieved them, so why don’t they matter now? Because we’ve been told that if it’s not a diploma, a promotion, or a major life event, it doesn’t count? Does that mean this year’s automatically a failure, and my smaller wins don’t deserve any space? I’m done believing that. A win is a win, and I’m celebrating mine at the end of this year—and every year after.
Sure, a trophy shelf might be nice and shiny, but I’d much rather my life be like an old photo album—packed with little moments that matter, full of stories I’ll want to tell.
“This is the day I finally got out of bed and showered after a week of fighting off depression.”“This is when I learned to cook just to impress a boy.”“This is the night I slept a full 10 hours after a brutal week at work.”
These are the moments I want to celebrate. Wins, big or small, deserve to be remembered, and they’re worth marking.
So, what do you think? Want to join me in sticking a little victory sticker on every win?
Anyway, stay curious!
Always with love,
Idelia
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