Do you celebrate you?
As 2022 is nearing its end, many of us are already looking ahead into 2023 and our new year’s resolution.
But.
Can you STOP for just a moment and, instead of looking forward, look back at what YOU have achieved in 2022? And celebrate you.
Perhaps you are a bit like me (especially if you’re stressed and it’s all too much) and you think - task, tick, next. Rarely stopping to pat yourself on the shoulder. You thank those around you, praise and recognise their achievements and growth, show gratitude and compassion towards others. And when you get the ‘thank you’, you think, ‘well, it’s what I’m paid to do’ or ‘I only did what is expected of me’. Or even worse the ever present negative self-talk like ‘I could have done that better’.
If you believe moving the goal post by thinking - task, tick, next, more - will make you happy, chances are it won’t. Striving for perfection or the next big goal will not make you happy, instead it will burn you out. It will leave you frustrated, angry, tired. I know, I’ve been there. And it’s not pretty.
We believe in continuous improvement, and yes, there is a time and place for it. But at some point, we need to recognise and celebrate our progress. Look at where we are from where we started.
When I hiked 820 km from Melbourne to Canberra across the Australian Alps, unsupported and without entering a township in 52 days, there was a day when I was standing on a mountain, looking towards where I needed to go. All I could see was mountain range after mountain range after mountain range, so much hard work still ahead. It was disheartening and overwhelming. Turning around to descend, I saw all the mountain ranges I had already crossed. It really hit me in that moment how much I had already achieved. Not once had I stopped to really celebrate me, my efforts and acknowledge the challenges I had overcome. Once that hit home, I turned again towards where I was heading and it was no longer overwhelming.
So why not stop for a moment to count - and I mean really count - and celebrate all you do and achieve?
the times you are there for family, a friend, a colleague
the support and smiles you give to others and make their day better, simply by being you
getting out of bed most mornings and turning up for those around you
…
and of course, let’s not forget, the projects you finish and deadlines you meet - and I don’t mean only the ones at work.
In our fast paced world, we take so much for granted. Including ourselves. So stop, take a pen and piece of paper, and write down what you have done this year - and see if it doesn’t bring a smile to your face.
Feel free to share some in the comments section or tuck the list into your favourite book to return to when needed.