Celebrating Every Piece Placed

Lewis Bartelle
Oct 31
3 min read

Why Small Wins Are the Core of Recovery

Hey friends, Lewis here.

When you look at the mountain of recovery ahead of you, it’s easy to feel discouraged. It can feel like you have to climb a vertical mile just to reach the first base camp.

This feeling of being overwhelmed is normal, but it's dangerous, because it blinds you to the most critical truth of your journey: Progress is not one big move.

This article is all about learning to celebrate every tiny improvement, no matter how insignificant it seems, because those small victories are the fundamental building blocks of greater independence.

The Blind Spot: Missing Your Own Progress

You’ve likely heard it from your loved ones: "Look at all the progress you have made!" While you appreciate the support, you may not see it yourself. Why? Because we tend to be so focused on our own "big picture" recovery that we are blinded by all these tiny, so-called "insignificant" steps.

Listen, progress is not one big move. It's lots and lots of these small, sometimes barely noticeable steps. However small, they are there.

Remember the Stroke/Puzzle Metaphor? You don't instantly place the entire border; you look for two matching pieces that snap together. That satisfying "click" of two pieces coming together—that is your small victory.

The Power of the "Insignificant" Victory

The greatest danger in recovery is discounting your daily effort. You must recognize, claim, and celebrate every small win because they prove your work is paying off.

Visible Victories (The External Wins)

These are the tiny steps people may notice and celebrate for you:

A Clearer Word: Saying a word clearly after multiple attempts in therapy. This is Neuroplasticity in action, strengthening a neural pathway.

A Stronger Grip: Picking up a mug without dropping it on the first try. This increases independence and reduces the need for constant caregiver intervention.

A Better Night's Sleep: Waking up feeling genuinely rested. This confirms your focus on hydration, nutrition, and rest is supporting brain repair.

Invisible Victories (The Internal Wins)

This is the bigger part of the battle—the progress happening in your mind that only you can truly feel:

Emotional Control: You avoided an outburst over a frustration, or you managed to stay focused during a long, mentally draining task. You gained control over your emotional state.

Mental Endurance: You completed the full session of physical therapy without quitting, even when fatigue hit. You brought The Hustle.

Increased Awareness: You successfully recognized when a loved one was about to fall into the "theft of struggle" trap and calmly asked them to step back.

Recognizing these wins is not just about feeling good; it’s about reinforcing behavior. When you acknowledge the small victory, you motivate your brain to repeat the effort.

Claim Your Progress, Own Your Journey

When you look in the mirror and say, "I did that. My work is paying off," that ownership is empowering. 13+ years down the road and I love the mirror!

Here’s how to intentionally celebrate every piece placed:

Keep a Victory Journal: At the end of every day, write down just one small thing you did better than the day before, or one moment you felt in control. This is a tangible record of progress for when discouragement hits.

Acknowledge the Effort, Not Just the Result: Did you try to tie your shoe 10 times, even though you ultimately failed? Celebrate the effort. You brought The Hustle, and that effort is what ultimately builds the new pathway. You did not quit trying, proud of you!

Trust Your Cornerstones: When your family or friends tell you how much progress you've made, trust their outside perspective. They see the distance you've traveled because they aren't blinded by the daunting mountain ahead.

Your recovery is a slow, steady masterpiece built brick by brick. Don't let the mountain ahead blind you to the beautiful foundation you are building right now.

What is the smallest "insignificant" victory you had this week that you are now going to proudly celebrate?