the cookie jar

You know that feeling – when self-doubt creeps in, and your mind starts spinning with "what-ifs."

It’s the worst feeling.

Your brain starts to draw up these webs of thoughts:

“Did I make the right decision?”

“What if this doesn’t work out?”

“Maybe I should’ve waited for a little longer?”

Then I came across Mr. David Goggin’s cookie jar.

The Sweetness of Past Victories

I was scrolling through YouTube and there it was. A 2-minute clip of David Goggins talking about his ‘cookie jar.’

But don't worry – this isn't about hardcore physical challenges or military training. It's about something we all have but often forget to use:

Our personal history of overcoming challenges.

Think of your mind as having a cookie jar.

Not the kind filled with chocolate chips and crumbs, but one that's packed with every challenge you've conquered, every obstacle you've overcome, and yes – even every failure you've learned from. It's your personal treasure chest of resilience.

We're so quick to remember our setbacks but slow to recall our victories.

When was the last time you paused to really acknowledge how far you've come? How many times have you pushed through when things got tough, only to discount that achievement later?

The beauty of the mental cookie jar is its simplicity. It's not about positive thinking or empty affirmations. It's about hard, solid evidence – your evidence.

Every time you reach in, you're pulling out proof of your capability, not just wishful thinking.

Building Your Personal Cookie Jar

Let's make this practical. Take a moment to reflect:

Remember that interview you nailed despite your racing heart?
That difficult conversation you managed to navigate with courage?
The time you stayed calm when everything seemed to be falling apart?

These aren't just memories – they're tools.

They're your cookies, and each one represents a moment when you proved to yourself what you're capable of.

The Art of Using Your Cookie Jar

The real magic happens in those moments when you feel stuck or overwhelmed. That's when you need to consciously reach into your mental cookie jar. Here's how:

1. Pause and acknowledge the challenge you're facing

2. Take a deep breath and mentally "open" your cookie jar

3. Pull out a specific memory of a time when you overcame something similar

4. Remember how it felt, what you did, and what you learned

5. Apply that same resilience to your current situation

This has helped me so many times. More than I can imagine.

Now every time my world feels like it’s crumbling, I just know that:

1. I will get through this.

2. I will look back at this in a few months, probably smiling or laughing about it. 🥰

Think of this practice as emotional strength training. 🏋

What makes this approach powerful is that it's entirely personal. Your cookie jar is filled with YOUR experiences, YOUR victories, YOUR lessons.

No one can take that away from you, and no one can tell you your achievements aren't valid.

The Bigger Picture

This isn't just about getting through tough moments – it's about building a more resilient relationship with yourself.

Each time you reach into your mental cookie jar, you're not just remembering past successes; you're reinforcing your identity as someone who perseveres, learns, and grows.

Remember: Your cookie jar is always full.

Even on days when you feel empty, those victories and lessons are still there, waiting to remind you of your strength. The question isn't whether you have what it takes – it's whether you'll remember to reach in and grab it.

Take a moment today to start filling your jar consciously. What victories, big or small, can you add to it? What challenges have you overcome that you haven't given yourself credit for?

And don’t think your wins are ‘too small’ to be considered wins. A win is a win. 🫵🏽

Sometimes, the sweetest cookie isn't the taste of success – it's the reminder that you've succeeded before, and you can do it again.

As the year comes to an end, remind yourself of how far you’ve come.

The dark days you pushed through.
The nights that seemed forever.
The uncertainty of it all.

And yet…here you are. ❤️

Merry Christmas. 🎄