Why Being Proud Of Your Progress Helps You To Heal Faster

Recently, I was listening to a podcast about an Australian doctor who was tragically injured when a car lost control in a hospital parking area. This freak accident left her with spinal injuries, and she credits exercise with giving her the ability to walk again. As an incomplete paraplegic, while she can walk, she still relies on a wheelchair at times for mobility. She undertook her rehabilitation in America, and something she said struck a chord with me. Her therapist encouraged her to celebrate each win and milestone along the way during her remarkable rehabilitation journey. She commented that this acknowledgement and celebration of wins was vital to her recovery and something that is not encouraged enough in Australian culture, as we have the "tall poppy syndrome." Most Australians are discouraged from standing out or appearing better than anyone else. Therefore, wins aren't acknowledged publicly and, in most cases, even privately. This was first brought to my attention when I joined a US-based coaching group for Pilates teachers in 2020, and I've encouraged my clients working to overcome chronic pain to identify and celebrate their wins ever since. What would your life look like if you focused on the wins instead of the struggles in your journey out of chronic pain?

The more I’ve worked with people experiencing chronic pain, the more I’ve realised that learning to notice and acknowledge your progress can be just as important as the physical work itself. I see it in my clients all the time — those little changes that might seem insignificant at first, but are actually signs that something is shifting. So, let’s look at why celebrating your wins can make such a difference to the way you think, feel, and move, and how you can start recognising your own progress, even on the days when it feels like you’re not getting anywhere.

Celebrate The Wins, Not Just The Finish Line

Celebrating each small win rewires your brain toward hope.  This helps to calm the nervous system, which reduces the stress response and dampens the body's pain signals and contributes to supporting physical recovery. 

However, when you're living with chronic pain, it's human nature to focus on what you can't do.

You notice what still hurts. You compare yourself with how you used to be. You might even finish a Pilates session thinking about the exercise you couldn't do rather than everything you did achieve.

But what if you started looking for the wins?

Maybe you walked a little further. Perhaps an exercise that was difficult last month felt easier today. Maybe you're sleeping better, moving with more confidence, or recovering more quickly after exercise.
These are wins. And they matter.

Why Is Celebrating Yourself So Uncomfortable?

I think this can be particularly challenging for us Aussies.

We're often taught not to get too big for our boots. Don't boast. Don't show off. Don't make yourself look too good.

But there's a big difference between being arrogant and being proud of yourself.

You don't have to tell everyone about your achievements. You can simply acknowledge them privately:

"I've worked hard for this, and I'm proud of myself."

That's not showing off. It's recognising your own effort.

What Counts As A Win?

A win doesn't have to be something huge.

It might be:

• Showing up for your Pilates session.

• Walking further than you did last week.

• Trying an exercise you were previously afraid to do.

• Sleeping better.

• Having more energy.

• Listening to your body and modifying an exercise when you need to.

• Managing a flare-up with more confidence.

• Realising you're less afraid of movement than you used to be.

And some of the biggest wins aren't physical.

Trusting your body again is a win.
Feeling more confident is a win.
Not blaming yourself for your pain is a win.

Keep A Record Of Your Wins

If celebrating your progress doesn't come naturally, write it down.

At the end of each week, ask yourself:

What went well this week?

Write down three things.

They don't have to be big, and they don't all have to be related to Pilates or pain.

Keep your list somewhere you can look back at it.

Because there will be difficult days. There will be flare-ups and setbacks.

On those days, your list can remind you:

"I'm not where I started."

Progress Isn't Always A Straight Line

A good week can be followed by a flare-up.

You can feel stronger and then have a day when everything feels difficult.

That doesn't mean you've failed or gone backwards.

Recovery from chronic pain isn't a straight line. It's a journey with ups, downs, and the occasional frustrating detour.

Try to look at the bigger picture rather than judging yourself on one difficult day.

 Be Proud Of How Far You've Come

You don't have to wait until you're pain-free to be proud of yourself.

You don't have to wait until you're doing everything you used to do.

You can be proud of yourself now.

Proud that you're showing up.
Proud that you're learning about your body.
Proud that you're trying something new.
Proud that you're learning to move with more confidence.

So next time you finish your Pilates session, don't focus only on what you couldn't do.

Ask yourself:

"What did I do today that I couldn't do before?"

That might be your win.

If you would like to start Pilates with me and learn how to overcome your chronic pain while celebrating your wins along the way, email me at [email protected] .  Alternatively, you can book an Initial Assessment with me here or  take the free 10 day trial of JS Mind Body Pilates, my library of on-demand videos, and start straight away.  It would be my pleasure to assist you in starting your Pilates journey to pain-free living!