by guest blogger Gina Blitstein

Have you ever been so busy, stressed, tired and overwhelmed by the sheer pace of your life, work and obligations that you lose all perspective of your self-worth? It seems the more hectic our lives become, the less chance we have to take stock of all that we do accomplish.

Everyone is busy these days, of this there is no doubt. Whether you’re a mom, CEO, WAHM or all of the above…chances are you’re operating at full capacity - or more. You are constantly bombarded with a never-ending stream of schedules, projects and details all requiring your attention and action.

When we are physically, intellectually and emotionally overstressed, we cannot see clearly or appreciate all that we do because it is lost in a blur, says Sylvia Warren, MBA and Consciousness Coach at Simply the Best Coaching.

“This leaves accomplished professionals feeling like they are not productive or effective enough, says Sylvia. “When I hear these concerns, I know these clients are suffering from a modern day work malaise I call Achievement Amnesia: no instant recall of achievements or successes.”

Because the present is a whirlwind of continual activity, we tend to diminish the degree of our successes, which lie in the past. We live as if success is somehow defined by the lack of that constant state of chaos, which lies ahead of us and we never attain. We end up feeling like failures, which of course couldn’t be farther from the truth.

According to Sylvia, it is possible to become so focused on that which you have not yet achieved that you literally “forget” all you have accomplished. The mind gets stuck in a continual cycle of, “do, do, do,” and it forgets to reflect on and take pride in past achievements and successes.

If you find yourself suffering from “Achievement Amnesia,” Sylvia offers 3 simple daily practices to help you find happiness and fulfillment in the present:

At the start of your work day, write down three top priorities you are committed to getting done that day. We know you have a lot more than three.

Focus on only three priorities at a time.

• Check each priority and subsequent action items off your list right after you’ve completed them. Notice how great this simple action feels.
• At the end of your work day, take 5 minutes to review your progress and see what you’ve achieved. Give yourself this time and space to appreciate what is working well for you.
• How will these simple practices help you to see the bigger picture? Sylvia’s answer is, “You learn to build on your small wins and leverage them into big gains.”

She stresses how important it is to take note of and celebrate all your progress in this exercise, big and small. Be objective and take note of your successes and also areas where you could use improvement. This introspective exercise will increase your awareness of the “here and now.”

“You’ll find these three simple success practices release you from the fog of Achievement Amnesia,” Sylvia reports. It’s important buoy up your sense of accomplishment on a daily basis in order to prevent feelings of dissatisfaction and increase your feelings of self-worth.

How do you make certain that you carry your past successes into today?