Underrated Causes for Celebration

Celebrating our own wins or accomplishments can be easier said than done. Many of us find
that we have areas of confidence that we will accept praise over, but even more common are
all the uncelebrated moments of success. Mindset is a powerful tool, that drives our feelings
and responses towards our environment. What if we gave credit to the moments where we
worked hard, but let it pass by as “no big deal”? What if we were better about celebrating
milestones throughout our day, week, or month that are not wrapped up in big
accomplishments or fancy goals?

Confidence and self-esteem are rooted in our own internal narrative. How we talk to and about
ourselves, impacts the display of confidence we have, and the internal world fueling our self-
esteem. When we practice taking time to celebrate our success, we are essentially pointing out
that our hard work matters, even in the smallest moments.

Celebration is not bragging, it’s not boastful, or overtly prideful; unless the motive is such to
endorse that product. Instead, intentional celebration of your success, is choosing to see your
efforts as worthy of praise or reflection. It’s the idea that regardless of who notices, YOU notice
that you are doing a good job. This is worth celebrating.

Why is the idea of celebrating your success important? The answer is not complicated. We can’t
receive praise or believe the positive feedback from a job well done, unless we also see or
believe this to be true about ourselves. Have you ever been complimented on something and
thought inside, “wow, if only they knew I don’t like this on myself” or “this wasn’t even my best
work”. We can easy gaslight ourselves into believing that our efforts are not good enough, or
that the recognition from others is not worthy of praise simply because we don’t believe it to
be true about ourselves. The ability to receive positive feedback or celebration of our efforts, is
rooted in our own ability to celebrate our strengths. When we talk to ourselves differently, we
are opening up a point of vulnerability in being able to connect deeper with others. Through
this connection, we are able to appreciate on a new level, the impact of a compliment from
others.

Examples of what to celebrate include, and are not limited to:
– Making a choice that aligns with your authentic values
– Vocalizing your needs to someone else either professionally or personally
– Starting the day, even if you wanted to just stay in bed
– Finding fulfillment out of an activity you love doing or enjoy
– Reaching a small goal or milestone
– Setting a boundary even if it was scary
– Exercising self-compassion where you once used self-criticism
– Carving out time for self-care in a busy schedule

– Practicing mindfulness and being more present in an environment that is important to you
– Exercising gratitude towards areas in your life that are impactful
– Shifting your opinion when presented with new information
– Being open minded to new ways of connecting or communicating

These examples can be a starting ground for reflection in your own life. What can you celebrate
today that took effort and intentionally to accomplish? Where did you find yourself impressed
by your efforts even if no one else noticed?

How you talk to yourself matters. Conserve the energy you invest into others, and share some
of that with yourself. Your brain, body, and soul with appreciate this.