How far you've come
Take a moment to pause this week as we enter a new season to acknowledge and appreciate all that you are and all that has brought you to this moment.
Do you acknowledge yourself regularly?
Perhaps you, like me, were admonished early in life not to “rest on your laurels.” I learned that celebrating wins was not okay. That meant I never paused to appreciate how far I’d come; I wouldn’t let myself integrate successes; I would move the goalpost and keep going. Internally, that led to a feeling that I never arrived and never succeeded, never changed “enough.”
I’ve noticed that it goes strangely quiet when I gather groups of women and invite them to recognize themselves, what they’ve accomplished, and how they have changed. The women who speak up often sound… apologetic, downplaying their celebrations with all the ways they aren’t perfect, haven’t changed enough, or didn’t quite hit the mark. It breaks my heart.
Celebration is sacred medicine.
Acknowledgment and appreciation of what you’ve accomplished, how you’ve changed, and the obstacles you’ve faced and overcome is medicine. I recognize that culture wants us to keep striving, never to feel that we’ve done enough, to feel slightly defective all the time. I would invite you to actively challenge this unspoken gag order that discourages the celebration of all that you are right here and right now.
When you intentionally pause to acknowledge your wins, your success, the obstacles you have faced, and the changes you have experienced as a result of showing up for your life, it creates currency. Currency meaning that you bring all of you, and your energy, and your strength and wisdom and capacity into this moment. Pausing and basking in celebration fills your spiritual well, and gives you the clarity and the strength to take the next steps on your heroine’s journey.
It’s just that important.
It is even more important if you aren’t where you want to be. Even if things are challenging and you are disappointed with where you find yourself, celebration offers the healing perspective of what is right with you and in your world in the face of difficulty.
Please take a moment.
This week, we collectively welcome a change of season and experience the equinox - a natural moment to pause and reflect on where you are and how far you’ve come. I encourage you to take a moment to celebrate - to acknowledge your efforts, appreciate changes, and feel gratitude for the wins you’ve experienced during the last season.
Here are some of my favorite questions to ask:
What am I celebrating?
What am I proud of?
What did I learn?
What has changed for me, in my life or my business?
Where did I live into my values?
What wisdom am I taking forward?
Let these questions be a jumping-off place to celebrate and acknowledge yourself and all you are.
+1 for love
Your practice of acknowledging and appreciating yourself is amplified when you share it. You are invited to share part, or all, of your celebrations with someone else. Allow your magnificence to be witnessed and celebrated by another. I would love to witness and share in your celebrations - please do share your acknowledgments and celebrations in the comments!
In honor of all you are and just how far you’ve come.
I'm celebrating the post I am releasing tomorrow. And also updating all of my web copy. It just feels so clean :)