Build Your Cookie Jar—Use Past Wins to Power Present Challenges

There’s a sensation we all recognize when exhaustion or pain reaches a peak: your brain offers a hundred stories for why you should just stop. That’s when some people dig deep and reach for something they call their 'cookie jar.' It isn’t childish—the jar is a collection of past victories, moments when you overcame doubt, suffered through discomfort, or accomplished more than you once believed possible.

Picture an athlete midway through a grueling race, legs burning, lungs on fire. Instead of slowing down, they recall, in vivid detail, the memory of the last race where they fought past the desire to quit and earned a new personal best. That memory isn’t just abstract—it’s a spark, a mental energy boost that keeps them in the game. The next week, during a tough deadline at work, the same strategy works: they remember nailing that impossible project, and suddenly, finishing feels possible again.

This isn’t motivational fluff; it’s leveraging neuroscience and memory. Emotionally-charged memories can activate endorphins and counteract pain by shifting focus away from present discomfort. Building and using a 'cookie jar' of wins trains your brain to expect resilience from itself, even when life gets stormy.

Start building your own 'cookie jar' by listing every tough moment you fought through—big or small—and savored the win. When you next hit a wall, whether in a workout, a work crisis, or just an emotional slump, deliberately recall one of those stories with all the details you can remember, letting pride and memory push your energy. In moments where you’re tempted to give up, mentally reach into that jar for the fuel to keep going. Don’t forget to add new examples as you conquer fresh challenges. Over time, this simple routine will change how you respond to adversity—always reaching for the next spark.