Life comes in seasons. Highs and lows. Great times and difficult times. It’s so important for all of us as women to show ourselves love and care. How often do you celebrate yourself? We’re constantly striving. Doing. Improving. Seemingly unsatisfied with the strides we’ve made. It’s time to celebrate ourselves. The Pew Research Center has an interesting collection of findings on “Happiness & Life Satisfaction”. One of the research centers studies on the meaning of life found that people ages 30 - 49 are more likely to cite their careers as a source of fulfillment in life. It’s true that many of us center our life around our work. Among age groups 50 - 64, family and occupation are the drivers of fulfillment compared to that of young adults ages 18 - 29 who cite health and well-being as their central source of fulfillment.
These varying degrees of fulfillment and satisfaction are worth noting and we know our focus in life changes as the seasons go by. The main point of this article is to emphasize: no matter what season you are in your life, celebrate yourself and find that inner satisfaction. To wake up in the morning and feel that sense of inner satisfaction is a wonderful gift we give ourselves.
Do you celebrate yourself?
Celebrating your success is a wonderful way to acknowledge your hard work and achievements and extract more enjoyment out of life. Here are some creative and meaningful ways to celebrate:
Take Time for Self-Care Daily. Do simple things every day to take care of yourself. Instead of running yourself into the ground, make a conscious effort to build times of self-care into your daily life. Have a cup of tea. Read a chapter of your favorite book. Have a cup of tea. Take a personal day and go to the spa. Eat something healthy and refreshing. Take a 5-minute breather in between meetings if you have a busy day. Daily, take good care of yourself.
Spend Time with Loved Ones. Share your success with family and friends. Host a dinner party or go out for happy hour with your close friends. Celebrate your successes. Schedule date nights and brunch dates. Take time to enjoy your children or your grandkids. Find time to leave work early when you can to make time for friends or to visit family. That feeling of connectedness is refreshing and helps build a strong foundation within you and a sense of safety.
Set Guardrails. Women by nature are givers. However, sometimes we can outgive ourselves. Have you ever given so much, there’s nothing left for you? Time to set some guardrails. Be attentive to people in your life who perhaps are draining you. Set time limits for dinner meetings or time limits when people ask you for help on a project. Oh, and say no! “No” can be a wonderful way to protect yourself. Clearly define projects and responsibilities with your coworkers. Be mindful of your volunteer commitments and try not to overcommit. Part of celebrating yourself is making time to complete the tasks that are important to you. Be careful of family and friends who are not respectful of your time. What guardrails do you need to put into place?
Get Creative. Engage in a creative activity that you love, such as painting, writing, or crafting. As life goes on, we tend to lose our sense of wonder. Tap into the childlike person within you. Do something creative. Dream again. Write down some of those dreams you forgot about. Get back in touch with your sense of exploration. Go walking in a beautiful garden. Join a meetup. Bake something! Learn a craft or an instrument. You may not be a creative person, but you can still be creative with yourself. You can break the norm and explore. Change up your hair color! Explore new colors and styles. I personally love shopping for new hair accessories! It makes me feel like a teenager again. Play with some new hairstyles. Renew that creativity within your soul. Life is more than just working and weekends. Get creative.
Practice Gratitude. Reflect on your journey. Be thankful for your life and express gratitude. It may sound strange but be thankful within yourself for yourself. We are so good to others but we’re not always thankful with ourselves. Be proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Encourage yourself. I often say to my daughter, “Talk to yourself like you talk to your best friend.” You know us girls are always taking care of our besties! Be your own best friend. Take time to be journal and reflect on what you’re thankful for and don’t forget to celebrate and reflect on your accomplishments, small and great.
Be Spontaneous. Do something different. Go somewhere new. Go to a new restaurant or a new art gallery or a new boutique. Change up the routine and give yourself time to enjoy something that’s on your list. Breaking up your normal routine can be refreshing. I’ve been taking trips to New York to attend seminars, shows and events I’ve always wanted to attend. It’s been a wonderful way to get away from the madness and embrace new experiences. It’s a way I treat myself. Take a YOU-CATION. Get away with you. Take your journal. Hydrate. Recalibrate.
Invest in Yourself. Learning something new or taking on a new training or certification is a great way to celebrate yourself. Or perhaps there’s an award you’d like to achieve. There’s nothing wrong with asking a friend or colleague to nominate you for a special recognition. Perhaps it’s a new training or class or conference you’d like to attend. Go for it! How will you advance yourself? It’s incredibly healthy to realize that you’re worth the investment.
Treat Yourself. I love rewarding myself! My treat is something as small as my favorite latte at Starbucks or sometimes, it’s buying a new fragrance at the beauty store. I always encourage women, “Every time you get paid, buy something nice for yourself.” When I started my career, I developed an insane love for costume jewelry! It was a way I could color up my wardrobe for a small investment. Every pay day, I bought something new. Maybe it’s a book or lipstick or your favorite treat. Be good to yourself and give yourself rewards.
Share Your Story. Inspire others by sharing your success story. You know, as children, we loved telling our friends and family good news! Remember, “show and tell” at school? When we were younger, it was normal to share good news about ourselves. However, often as we grow, we’re told not to do that. We’re told not to talk about ourselves too much. That’s a myth! Celebrate your successes. Share your story. Share your promotions and achievements. Utilize social media to celebrate your successes for the purpose of inspiring others. You never know who is watching who may have an opportunity for you. It’s totally ok to share your expertise and ways you are enriching your company or community. Get comfortable with sharing positive news about your work. It could be in the form of social media posts, updating your profile or perhaps you might choose to share your expertise in a blog, white paper or report.
Go for more. You’ve probably heard the phrase that good can be the enemy of great. One incredible way of celebrating yourself is to GO FOR MORE. Reach for bigger opportunities. Go for that promotion. Go for that contract. Or maybe, go for that early retirement. Don’t be afraid to make that shift in your life into more of what you want. We often talk ourselves out of opportunities and somehow don’t always give ourselves that gift of a change. Reach for what you want. Don’t allow yourself to stay comfortable in a life or opportunity that’s less than what you’re capable of. Use ALL your gifts and talents. Don’t wait for the validation of others to go for what’s next. Often, we have dreams that no one knows about. We have desires that the people around us are totally unfamiliar with! It can be scary to be someone you’ve never been. But you know what? You deserve it to give yourself the gift of “PERMISSION” for greatness. Say yes to your next. Free yourself to pursue more.
Celebrating your success not only feels good but also reinforces positive behavior and keeps you motivated for future endeavors.
How do you usually like to celebrate your achievements?
Be kind to yourself. Practice self-compassion and recognizing your inherent worth. Treat yourself with kindness and be mindful of your inner thoughts and the way you think about yourself. Avoid negative self-talk which can sabotage your future and hold you back. Celebrating yourself is a way of conquering the negative inner voice. We’re constantly telling ourselves a story about ourselves. What story are you telling yourself? Learn to tell yourself, “Good job”, “You made it”, “You tried your best” or “Girl, you’re awesome!”
I hope you take time for your self-care, take up a hobby, and learn to relax and manage your stress. It’s important to set realistic expectations and forgive yourself for mistakes and understand you need room to grow. Nurture yourself by celebrating yourself more in this season.
Self-sabotage often stems from fear of failure, low self-esteem, or past negative experiences. By practicing mindfulness and self-awareness, we can recognize these triggers and consciously choose healthier responses. Setting clear, achievable goals and celebrating small successes along the way can help maintain motivation and confidence. Additionally, seeking support from friends, mentors, or therapists can provide valuable perspectives and encouragement. By addressing the root causes of self-sabotage and fostering a supportive environment, women can break free from destructive patterns and pursue their goals with confidence.
So, ready…set…go…CELEBRATE!