20 Things in Life That I Have Done That No One Can Take From Me – A Journal Prompt
I recognize that twenty seems like a lot to list out, especially if you have low self-esteem or are feeling down in the dumps; however, this journal prompt provided valuable reframing on my life accomplishments. I sat in group therapy half zoned out when the therapist dropped the bomb letting us know we were going to all write out a list of twenty things we have done in our lives that no one can take from us. I thought this was going to be impossible.
I had been viewing accomplishments as society typically teaches them to us. I thought success was having a house, being married, having a degree, having kids, and having a well paying job. I only had one of those five things. it wasn’t the only reason I had been down in the dumps, but it definitely wasn’t helping. In group, we were challenged to view accomplishments in terms of “things in life that I have done that no one can take away from me.”
Even then, I was still stumped and not sure how I was going to get to twenty on my list. The therapist gave us a few ideas of what categories can be added:
- High school diploma
- Driver’s License
- Buy a car
- Moving to an apartment or a house
- Going to therapy
- Seeing a psychiatrist
- Any time you have reached out for help / accepted help (going to a mental hospital definitely counts and so does group therapy!)
- Things you have survived or escaped (Including but not limited to: trauma, abusive relationships, stressful work environments, and suicide plans or attempts)
- Job positions you have held
- Lessons you have learned
- Decisions you have made
- Goals you have achieved (such as “read a book in three days”)
- Milestones in your hobbies (such as “crocheted my first washcloth”)
- Knowledge you have acquired (Anything you have learned / researched)
Once I saw this list up on the white board, the gears in my mind started to turn a little bit faster. I was able to come up with a list of twenty but it too me a little while to get there. I definitely had an internal battle with a part of me that argued that I was not allowed to count some of these things as accomplishments. I worked to tell that part that the definition of accomplishments it holds is from other people. Just because I was told that is what accomplishments look like does not mean that is correct or healthy. My new definition of an accomplishment is “things in life that I have done that no one can take away from me.”
Merriam-Webster defines an “accomplishment” as, “the act or fact of accomplishing something.” It goes on to define “accomplish” as, “to bring about (a result) by effort.” By both my new definition and the official Merriam-Webster definition, I am free to consider and celebrate quite a few more things as accomplishments.
To try this journaling prompt yourself, I suggest:
- Set aside 30+ minutes to journal
- Put on some jazzy or low fi music in the background
- Start with any that immediately pop into your mind, then see if you can break them down to be considered as more than one achievement that makes them up (give yourself some credit)
- If you get stumped, ask a trusted friend / safe person (because we tend to downplay what we have done, others tend to identify our accomplishments before we do)
Wishing you the best of luck as you begin to reframe your accomplishments. May this begin a journey of increased self-value. With love.
Sources:
Definition of ACCOMPLISH. (n.d.). Www.merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accomplish
Definition of ACCOMPLISHMENT. (2019). Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accomplishment
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