Celebrate Your Victories
For most of my life I have been my toughest critic. I subjected myself to mental torture over mistakes I made; always figuring I should have known better or could have tried harder. In my eyes, even when all was well, it still was never quite as good as it COULD have been.
I have recently been blessed with two mentors - one personal, one professional - who both recognized my discomfort with expressing my talents, abilities and achievements. Much to my surprise, they also noticed that I could read off my shortcomings like a grocery list.
Though I cannot pinpoint a single reason, I never mastered the art of accepting and celebrating my victories - I just didn't see much of a need to do so. I never talked about what I accomplished or the talent I knew I possessed. Recognition, praise and validation were things I expected others to give me - not giving it to myself is how I defined being humble. If I didn't receive positive external reinforcement, I would resign myself to suffering, assume that my achievement wasn't special and keep moving right along.
It is fine to expect excellence and get upset when we underachieve; especially when we know our ability far exceeds our effort. It is a healthy habit to assess performance, identify improvement opportunities and take action to better ourselves. This reflective exercise keeps us humble and allows us to continually elevate our talent to new levels.
Just as we benefit when we reflect and improve, we can profit much by celebrating our victories.
Acknowledgement of a job well done can be very simple and intimate like treating yourself to a little something after a major task is complete, or taking 'me' time. Depending on the level of achievement though i.e. completing a major degree or landing a new job/contract, a more social celebration might be fitting especially if the road was long and hard.
Loved ones might be invited to join in the celebrations but, would not be our only source of honor. By friends/family involved without relying on them too heavily, we gain a greater sense of balance. We boost our self-confidence without boasting and give ourselves just enough inspiration to keep forging ahead.
No matter how you decide to do it, celebrate yourself in a way that is fitting for your lifestyle and personality. Why? Because you're capable, you've worked hard and you deserve it...
I have recently been blessed with two mentors - one personal, one professional - who both recognized my discomfort with expressing my talents, abilities and achievements. Much to my surprise, they also noticed that I could read off my shortcomings like a grocery list.
Though I cannot pinpoint a single reason, I never mastered the art of accepting and celebrating my victories - I just didn't see much of a need to do so. I never talked about what I accomplished or the talent I knew I possessed. Recognition, praise and validation were things I expected others to give me - not giving it to myself is how I defined being humble. If I didn't receive positive external reinforcement, I would resign myself to suffering, assume that my achievement wasn't special and keep moving right along.
Today's Inspiration
Be Your Toughest Critic and Your Loudest Cheerleader
It is fine to expect excellence and get upset when we underachieve; especially when we know our ability far exceeds our effort. It is a healthy habit to assess performance, identify improvement opportunities and take action to better ourselves. This reflective exercise keeps us humble and allows us to continually elevate our talent to new levels.
Just as we benefit when we reflect and improve, we can profit much by celebrating our victories.
Acknowledgement of a job well done can be very simple and intimate like treating yourself to a little something after a major task is complete, or taking 'me' time. Depending on the level of achievement though i.e. completing a major degree or landing a new job/contract, a more social celebration might be fitting especially if the road was long and hard.
Loved ones might be invited to join in the celebrations but, would not be our only source of honor. By friends/family involved without relying on them too heavily, we gain a greater sense of balance. We boost our self-confidence without boasting and give ourselves just enough inspiration to keep forging ahead.
No matter how you decide to do it, celebrate yourself in a way that is fitting for your lifestyle and personality. Why? Because you're capable, you've worked hard and you deserve it...
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