By Dr. José Valentino Ruiz-Resto, Ph.D.,

Abstract 

This article explores how the rapid pace of modern professional life can obscure personal and career achievements, leading to diminished morale and an inability to recognize present blessings. By cultivating the intentional practice of counting wins—large, small, relational, internal, and survival-based—individuals can strengthen resilience, restore perspective, and sustain long-term motivation.

Keywords: career development, leadership, resilience, gratitude, motivation, well-being, achievement recognition, professional growth, mindfulness, performance psychology

Why Time Feels Fleeting?

Time is fleeting. No matter our field or accomplishments, every one of us lives within the constraints of days that pass too quickly and seasons that change before we feel ready. For those of us in careers that demand ambition, precision, creativity, and constant forward movement, time often feels less like a gentle companion and more like a relentless taskmaster. We strive, we push, we produce, we innovate—and yet, somewhere along the way, we can lose sight of what we have actually achieved.

In the whirlwind of professional pursuits, it is remarkably easy to become overwhelmed. Pressure mounts. Expectations climb. Goals shift and expand. The very achievements we once dreamed of realizing become background noise the moment they arrive, replaced instantly by new objectives, deadlines, and demands. The truth is simple: career momentum, for all its rewards, has a subtle way of blinding us to the blessings we are actively walking in.

Many high-performing individuals experience the phenomenon of achievement amnesia: the inability to recognize progress because the pursuit never stops long enough to acknowledge it. As a result, morale can suffer. Emotional bandwidth narrows. Gratitude becomes muted. And the joy that originally fueled our calling begins to fade under the weight of what comes next.

Yet there is a powerful antidote—one that reorients the heart, sharpens perspective, and strengthens resilience. The antidote is the practice of counting the wins.

The speed of modern professional life encourages a constant forward lean. Especially in fields that require high levels of creativity, leadership, and innovation, success is often measured by what is next, not what has been accomplished. This creates a treadmill effect: the faster one runs, the faster the belt moves.

Emails multiply. Opportunities expand. Responsibilities deepen. And in the midst of that acceleration, a strange paradox emerges: we can be exceeding our goals and simultaneously feeling like we’re falling behind.

Part of this comes from an internal narrative cultivated over years of striving. High achievers often carry an unspoken belief that reaching a goal should be quickly followed by reaching the next one. There is no pause. No acknowledgment. No exhale.

This is where time begins to feel thin. When life becomes a sequence of tasks rather than a tapestry of meaningful moments, the hours slip away unnoticed. The weeks blur. The years accelerate. Before long, blessings we prayed for years earlier now sit unnoticed on our calendar, overshadowed by the next urgent obligation.

This is why counting the wins matters.

What Happens When We Don’t Count the Wins

Failing to acknowledge our progress doesn’t merely obscure gratitude—it affects our emotional, psychological, and professional well-being. Leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, and executives all face the same consequences when wins go unrecognized:

1. Morale drops even while success rises.

We can live in seasons of abundance yet feel internally depleted because our mind only tunes into what remains undone.

2. Overwhelm becomes a constant companion.

Unchecked ambition eventually becomes exhausting. The absence of reflection makes even small challenges feel heavier.

3. Forward motion becomes disconnected from purpose.

When everything is urgent, nothing feels meaningful. Without perspective, direction becomes blurry.

4. We lose the ability to celebrate progress.

Celebration is not self-indulgence—it is psychological reinforcement. Without it, motivation weakens over time.

5. Gratitude fades.

And with it, the sense of blessing, opportunity, and joy that makes work worthwhile.

To put it plainly: if we don’t count the wins, we lose the very fuel we need to continue.

The Different Kinds of Wins We Must Learn to See

Not all wins look the same. Some are monumental—promotions, degrees earned, awards won, major contracts secured, major breakthroughs achieved. Others are quiet but powerful—moments of clarity, acts of patience, small steps of progress, the discipline to stay the course for one more day.

To maintain perspective and sustain morale, we must learn to recognize and honor multiple categories of wins:

1. The Big Wins (The Milestones)

These are the accomplishments that shape our professional identity. Album releases. Successful tours. Published research. A leadership appointment. A major project completed. These are the wins everyone sees.

2. The Small Wins (The Sustainers)

The email sent. The idea refined. The student helped. The meeting run well. The practice session completed. Small wins are the building blocks of excellence.

3. The Invisible Wins (The Internal Victories)

Patience in a tense moment. Grace during a misunderstanding. Courage to say “no” when your schedule cannot hold more. Integrity in private decisions. These wins strengthen character.

4. The Relational Wins (The Community Builders)

Encouraging a colleague. Mentoring a student. Supporting an emerging entrepreneur. Repairing a strained relationship. Leadership is never just about tasks—it is about people.

5. The Survival Wins (The Quiet Triumphs)

Some days, the win is that you showed up. You kept going. You held your ground. You endured.

All of these matter. All of these deserve recognition. And all of these restore strength and perspective when acknowledged.

Why Counting Wins Is Essential for Morale, Momentum, and Mental Clarity

If we want longevity, joy, and resilience in our careers, counting wins must become a disciplined practice—not an afterthought.

1. It reclaims perspective.

Acknowledging wins pulls us out of tunnel vision. It reminds us that we are not stagnant—we are advancing.

2. It strengthens morale.

A documented win is a stored encouragement. On challenging days, looking back on wins becomes fuel.

3. It slows down time.

Celebration forces a pause. It anchors us in the present moment and prevents the year from becoming a blur.

4. It trains gratitude.

Gratitude broadens our vision. It allows us to see blessings not as routine, but as the very miracles they are.

5. It reduces burnout.

Progress acknowledged is energy renewed. Leaders who count wins stay mission-focused without being emotionally depleted.

6. It builds identity based on truth, not pressure.

A record of wins reminds us:
We are growing. We are contributing. We are becoming.

How to Develop the Habit of Counting Wins

This practice is simple, but its impact is profound. Here are strategies that have served me well across my own journey of leadership, entrepreneurship, and global engagement:

1. Create a Wins Journal

Every day—or at least every week—write down three wins. Any size. Any category. Over time, these become a treasure chest of encouragement.

2. Celebrate the Small Things Intentionally

Did you complete a difficult conversation with grace?
Did you make progress on a long-term project?
Did you show patience, discipline, kindness, or clarity?
Count it.

3. Share Wins with Trusted Mentors or Colleagues

Community amplifies gratitude. Speaking your wins out loud deepens their impact.

4. Reflect Monthly or Quarterly

Take an hour every month to review your wins. Patterns will emerge—growth, resilience, solutions you once thought impossible.

5. Teach Others to Count Their Wins

Whether it’s students, colleagues, or employees, encouraging others to recognize their victories reinforces your own practice and strengthens the entire culture around you.

6. Pause Long Enough to Feel the Win

Don’t rush past moments of success. Give them room. Let them breathe.

Recognizing Blessings While They Are Still Blooming

One of the greatest tragedies of a high-achieving life is to be living inside answered prayers while feeling the pressure of the next challenge. To walk in environments once dreamed of and feel nothing but the weight of responsibility. To be surrounded by beauty yet blinded by haste.

Counting wins brings us back into awareness. It reopens our eyes to the blessings that exist right now—not in a future achievement, but in the present reality. Blessings in our work. Blessings in our relationships. Blessings in our opportunities. Blessings in our growth.

When we count our wins, we become better stewards of the time and influence entrusted to us.

Keep Going—And Keep Seeing

In every season of leadership—whether you are flourishing, stretching, rebuilding, or persevering—wins are happening. Some loud. Some quiet. Some internal. Some shared. But all are significant.

Count them.

Let them remind you that you are not standing still.
Let them reinforce that your work has meaning.
Let them anchor you when the pace feels relentless.
Let them restore your joy, your gratitude, and your resolve.

Time may be fleeting, but perspective is powerful. When we count the wins, we reclaim the truth that our journey is unfolding with grace, purpose, growth, and blessing—one step, one victory, one moment at a time.