Why you should celebrate minor milestones?

In Biblical Hebrew, two words describe joy: Sasson and Simcha.

Simcha is the kind of joy you feel when you've achieved a big goal; whether it's a personal project, a business goal, or any momentous event. Simcha is that feeling you get when you reach the top of the mountain. But, what does that mean? Does that mean we have to wait until the end of the quarter or the end of the year to finally celebrate the achievement of a long-term goal and have a simcha moment to be happy? NO.

That's why in Biblical tradition there's a second form of joy called sasson.  Sasson is not the joy felt when you reach your goal. It's the kind of joy you feel when you're ON THE WAY to your big goal. Do you want to be happy every day? Make it a habit to celebrate the small milestones along the way, those little victories, those little moments of sasson. Think like a special forces commando throughout a difficult training: carve that mountain into several intermediate levels and remember that each step takes you closer to your goal.

The founder of BlaBlacar, the world's leading carpooling marketplace tech company, puts it very well: "there's no elevator in the entrepreneurial building, only stairs". Do you want to go to the 27th floor? Enjoy each and every step to the top.

That's sasson.

Perhaps you've heard of a little kid who grew up in a small village in Austria. From the time he was ten, he dreamed of moving to America and saw bodybuilding as his path to fulfilling that dream. He became Mister Universe, a Hollywood actor, and the governor of California. One day he was asked to explain his exceptional success. His response was simple. He said that back in Austria, the people at his gym were always in pain, while for him, each extra rep was a step closer to his goal of getting to America. As a result, Arnold Schwarzenegger could find joy in every repetition because he knew they would lead to his success.

His example follows the advice of Benjamin and Sarah Cheyette in their article "Why It's Important to Celebrate Small Successes." In their research and treatment of ADHD, they have found that celebrating small successes leads to greater motivation and future success.  In fact, they have found that it's not enough just to complete a task or small goal; it is particularly important to recognize and celebrate how you feel when you complete it. Our brains naturally remember negatives more than positives. Celebrating the positive feelings of success, the joy of success, tells the brain why the hard work was worth it and motivates you to continue on that path, moving from a cycle of failure to a cycle of success. They conclude that "The momentum you gain from each small success is what will allow you to stay on course toward greater and greater achievements and successes, including achieving your big, long-term goals." 

הנהו תרי מיני חד שמיה ששון וחד שמיה שמחה א"ל ששון לשמחה אנא עדיפנא מינך דכתיב (ישעיהו לה, י) ששון ושמחה ישיגו וגו' א"ל שמחה לששון אנא עדיפנא מינך דכתיב (אסתר ח, יז) שמחה וששון ליהודים א"ל ששון לשמחה חד יומא שבקוך ושויוך פרוונקא דכתיב (ישעיהו נה, יב) כי בשמחה תצאו א"ל שמחה לששון חד יומא שבקוך ומלו בך מיא דכתיב ושאבתם מים בששון

There were once two different types [of Joy] one was called Sason and the other Simha. Sason said to Simha: 'I am better than you, since it is written, "They shall obtain Sason and Simha" (Isaiah 35:10). Simha said to Sason, "I am better than you, since it is written, "The Jews had Simha and Sason." Sason said to Simha: One day they will take you out and make you a messenger, since it is written, "For with Simha shall they go forth." Simha said to Sason: One day they will take you out and draw with you water, for it is written, "Therefore with Sason shall you draw water" (Talmud, Tractate Sukkah 48b).

The message here is: SASSON, or enjoy the feeling of each little success. Break your project down into manageable objectives and tasks. When a new task is done, you'll have a moment of sasson to encourage you to continue toward your bigger goals. With each newly completed step comes a moment of joy that will lead to greater success.

Let's conclude with this beautiful image from Jewish thought. According to the prophet Joel, simcha is felt through tasting a fine wine, while sasson is found in the long process of production from the grape to the glass. Finally, the only time when there's no sasson is when there's no movement.

So, remember these 3 things to find joy every day.:

1. Break your plans down into intermediate steps.

2. Always stay in motion.

3. Celebrate minor milestones.