Why do we count mistakes but ignore our wins?

A friend sent me this beautiful Irish blessing:

“Count your blessings instead of your crosses.
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes.
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears.
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full times instead of your lean.
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth.”

It’s a soft reminder to look at what is working.

We often focus on everything we didn’t do.
Didn’t finish. Didn’t achieve.

My clients do the same with their English.
They count every mistake.
But they rarely count the moments they spoke up, asked a question, joined a meeting.

Those moments matter more.

Starting the year by counting what you did do builds a quiet kind of confidence.

Want something simple to try?

Write a short letter to your future self.
Tell them what you hope this year will look like.
Keep it calm. Keep it light.
And see what happens.