37. Self Celebrations
Thought starters: How do you celebrate your own successes? When was the last time that you celebrated yourself for a win? Even a small win like getting through a hard work wee, showing up at the gym as many times as you said you would, getting to bed at a decent hour.
Last week, I had a conversation with my mom about how easy it is to breeze past wins, successes, and accomplishments, yet how hard it can be to let go of losses, setbacks, and unideal situations. When things go right—turning in a project at work, showing up at the gym, eating healthily, or simply making it through the day—I often see these as just “normal” life, as if success is the baseline. On the other hand, when things go wrong, I tend to spiral, allowing failure and comparison to take over.
This mindset has been a struggle for me for years. In high school, I would spend months preparing for cheer tryouts. I put all of my mental and physical energy into preparing for the tryouts in March. But when I made it onto the team, I’d feel relief more than pride, quickly moving on to the next thing without fully appreciating my accomplishment. Conversely, when I didn’t succeed, I’d internalize the loss, compare myself to others, and question my worth.
While I believe it’s important not to dwell on pride to the point of complacency, I’ve realized that intentionally celebrating wins—big or small—is crucial for building confidence and continuing to grow. By cruising over those moments, we dismiss the energy and effort invested, and undervaluing ourselves. Just like we were given rewards as kids — your favorite dessert for doing your homework, playtime if you did your chores, etc — you deserve them now as a kid in a grownup’s body.
I am personally making it a goal to celebrate my wins more often - from the small to the big. Here are a few ways that I am going to celebrate myself:
Friday coffee: A treat to celebrate getting through a long week.
Slow Saturday mornings: A moment to savor making it to the weekend.
Dinner with family or friends: Marking milestones, like my job continuing into the spring semester.
Stretching on Sundays: Gratitude for my body showing up for me in the gym all week.
Planning a fun event or dinner: A reward for making it through the semester.
Mindless TV time: Allowing myself to unwind after working hard.
Monthly refresh days: A pause to recharge and acknowledge my efforts to be social and engaged.
Post-workout stretches: A moment to thank my body for its strength and endurance.
A treat meal: Celebrating hitting my nutrition goals.
Rewarding myself isn’t about indulgence—it’s about fostering self-love and sustainability. As I approach the new year, I’m committing to prioritizing this shift. Skipping the celebration is like skipping a post-workout stretch: it doesn’t seem like a big deal at first, but over time, it leads to injury—not physical, but to your self-belief and ability to grow.
Celebrating wins isn’t just a practice—it’s a necessity for personal growth. And it’s one I’m not going to neglect anymore.