(A Dozenology – A 12-Part Saga) Part 9: The Reward – What You Gain When You Push Through
You did it.
You faced The Ordeal, stood your ground, and made it through what felt like the most intense, uncomfortable, “why-did-I-sign-up-for-this” moment of your journey.
And now? Something has shifted.
This is The Reward—the moment when, after all the struggle, you finally see the results of your effort.
It might not be a glowing treasure chest, a grand victory parade, or a wizard handing you a medal (though wouldn’t that be nice?). But make no mistake—this part matters.
Because this is where you start to realise:
🚀 You’ve changed.
🚀 You’ve grown.
🚀 And you’re capable of far more than you ever gave yourself credit for.
What The Reward Looks Like in Real Life
In movies, The Reward is dramatic. The hero gets the magical sword, the lost treasure, the long-lost truth that changes everything.
In real life? Your reward is the internal and external wins from pushing through challenges.
Your “Reward” might be:
🎉 The confidence you didn’t know you had. (Wait…I actually handled that?)
🎉 The skill or knowledge you’ve gained. (I couldn’t do this before, and now I can!)
🎉 The respect or recognition you’ve earned. (People are seeing the growth in me!)
🎉 The sense of purpose or direction that now feels clearer. (Ah, this is what I was meant to do!)
🎉 The knowledge that you didn’t quit when it got hard. (That alone is worth everything.)
It’s not just about what you’ve gained—it’s about who you’re becoming.
Why We Sometimes Miss The Reward
Oddly enough, a lot of people rush right past this stage without even noticing it.
Why?
Because we tend to focus so much on what’s next that we forget to pause and acknowledge how far we’ve come.
- You push through a challenge—then immediately start worrying about the next one.
- You reach a goal—then instantly raise the bar.
- You accomplish something amazing—but don’t take a second to celebrate it.
But here’s the thing:
🎯 Acknowledging your progress isn’t about ego—it’s about fuel.
🎯 Taking time to celebrate makes you stronger for the next challenge.
🎯 You didn’t come this far just to skip the best part.
How to Fully Embrace The Reward
- Take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself: What did I learn? How have I grown?
- Celebrate—even the small wins. Rewards don’t have to be grand. Sometimes, it’s as simple as acknowledging, “I did that.”
- Recognise that this is a turning point. You’re no longer the person who started this journey.
- Let this fuel you forward. Your next step will still have challenges, but now? You have proof that you can handle them.
What’s Next?
With The Reward in hand, you might be thinking, “Great! So, this is the part where I live happily ever after, right?”
Well…not quite yet.
Because every journey has one final test before the true transformation is complete.
And that brings us to:
Part 10: The Road Back – The Final Stretch Before Everything Falls Into Place.
Because just when you think you’re in the clear… life always throws in one last twist. But this time? You’re ready.💪🚀