Over the weekend, I was combing through my photos to find a Fall graphic for my home page, and I came to a realization. It was quite satisfying to look through all the photos of my completed projects.
I’d had a challenging few days prior to that, so my mood wasn’t great. I was feeling stress, as well as some worry/concern about a couple different family members, and a general angst about the state of the world.
While perusing the pictures, I noticed that I was starting to feel more positive, overall. That made me curious so I went looking for the science behind what I was experiencing.
It turns out that when we recognize accomplishments, we are causing our brain to release “feel good” chemicals, including dopamine.
According to an article in Psychology Today, when we take time to recognize the things we’ve done, we are building our confidence, boosting our resilience, and reminding ourselves that we are capable. In other words, no matter how down we may be, keeping track of – and revisiting from time to time – those things that we’ve completed or achieved is good “medicine”.
In this world of 24/7/365 streaming services, social media, and NOISE, it’s easy to fall into distorted thinking that suggests we’re not “keeping up” with others – in spite of being reminded that comparison is the thief of joy. The truth, however, is that big achievements are rare.
Conversely, small wins are relatively constant, if not always within reach. Our brains thrive on frequency, not size.
Engaging in regular self-acknowledgment of our achievements helps to keep our motivation up between the more rare major milestones. It also works to prevent “all-or-nothing” thinking that often leads to feeling discouraged about ourselves.
So in addition to all the health benefits of engaging in crocheting, knitting, quilting, and sewing; looking back on what we’ve made adds to the positives.
I take pictures of every project once it’s finished, and often have a few from before they’re complete. This was a habit born of a need for graphics on my blog, but has turned into something much more meaningful.
At the end of last year, I wrote a blog post highlighting all the projects I had done the previous 12-months. It was surprising to see how much I had created, enjoyable to remember each one, and quite rewarding, overall.
Many options are available to us when we’re feeling “meh”. These include taking a walk, listening to uplifting music, or helping someone, but this process might be even easier. With photos often residing on our phones, this exercise is accessible at any place and at any time.
One more IMPORTANT piece: we must remember to embrace the imperfections. None of us is perfect. Plus, perfection is not a factor in reaping the positive benefits of appreciating our accomplishments. There’s an old legend that says when we make something by hand, a small piece of our spirit is locked inside the stitches. If the work is entirely perfect, our soul is trapped, but mistakes in the piece provide an “escape hatch”.
If that seems a bit too woo-woo, we can simply consider that human hands, by design, are imperfect creators. Learning to embrace our wonderfully imperfect and unique creativity can lead to greater acceptance, joy, and peace.
Here’s to science, fiber arts, creating, and living our best lives, one stitch at a time.
(C) 2026 Stitch ‘n Dish