4 Reasons Why Celebrating Yourself Is Important + Simple Ways To Do It
Celebrating yourself does not mean you’re self-absorbed. It’s one of the most effective ways of practising self-love.
Celebrations are often reserved for major achievements, and the tiny interconnecting steps leading to the main occasion, are often ignored. But, if you don’t pause and reflect on aspects that made the whole success possible, it can be challenging to track and fine-tune what is already working. While being recognised for every victory you attain is grand, celebrating yourself is an elegant and simple way of increasing your sense of motivation. In this post, I’ll share reasons why you should celebrate yourself, and actionable ways to do just that!
The Benefits Of Celebrating Yourself
Here are four reasons why it’s vital to honour (and glorify) yourself.
- Increases Your Sense Of Gratitude
When you express joy for the smallest of wins, it’s easier to see the beauty and greatness in every aspect of your life. Did you get your hair dyed for the first time? You could celebrate and appreciate that you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone.
- A Form Of Acknowledging Baby Steps
In the Afrikaans language, there’s a saying “bietjie bietjie maak meer”, which translates to “every small step leads to something great”. Let’s say you’re saving to move to a bigger apartment. Acknowledging the first step of opening a savings account and making your initial deposit is worth celebrating because you’ve summoned the self-discipline to see your project through.
- You Get To Know Yourself Better
Through trial, and error, failures, and wins -we get to know ourselves better. You’re more capable of understanding your level of efficiency and limitations. By continuously taking a step back and reflecting on what works and what isn’t, you can hone in on your superpower, instead of beating yourself up for not being able to fulfil a task because of certain constraints. This not only allows you to stay motivated but increases your confidence.
- Builds Your Confidence
Think back to a time when you executed something you had just learned. Maybe it was trying out a favourite recipe which turned out well. How did that make you feel? Well, hopefully, you felt awesome! When you recognise and tune into the feeling of mastering a technique, you feel good. This boosts your confidence and propels you to take a further step toward creating something better. Celebrate this element about yourself and build on the certainty that you’re gifted enough to create anything you desire.
Simple Ways To Celebrate Yourself
Let’s be honest. Sometimes you won’t have people cheering for you, and that’s okay. That’s where you come in and become your own cheerleader by rewarding yourself for small and big feats. Here are four ways you can celebrate an accomplishment.
- Treat Yourself To Your Favourite Meal
I love food, and one way I express joy is by whipping up a scrumptious meal. The meal holds a special meaning because I’ll get reminded of the day I created a different dish from what I’m used to and the reason behind preparing it. So, if you have a dish you’ve been itching to try, prepare it, or go to your favourite eating place and spoil yourself with a good meal. You’ve done great in the endeavour you’ve endured, and you deserve to reward yourself.
- Buy Yourself Something Special
Having a physical item to look back at will remind you of your triumphs and help fuel your motivation. Remember self-care? It’s not only about eating well and exercising. It’s also about treating yourself to things that make you feel good. So, if the means allow, head to your preferred shopping centre and buy an item or two for yourself.
- Motivate Others By Sharing Your Successes
People respond to others’ energies. So, why not throw your positive stories and vigour around like confetti? When people hear others’ success stories and realise that they too can achieve anything they put their mind’s to, they feel inspired to overcome their obstacles to attain their own goals. According to Dr IsHak, a psychiatry professor at Cedars-Sinai, acts of kindness release dopamine -chemicals closely related to a phenomenon referred to as a “helper’s high”. This means when you help others, you step into a state of euphoria- which increases your feel-good hormones. Win, win!
- Create A Playlist
An article published in Psychology Today found that music triggers specific memories and brings forth emotions associated with that memory. So, you can compile a list of songs that remind you of your special day, and you’ll have something to refer to for those much-needed positive energy pick-me-up days to steer you back on a track of motivation.
Final Words
We’re always on the go. After catching the big fish, we don’t take time out to pause and acknowledge how far we’ve come. Before we know it, we’re chasing the next goal. But, celebrations are an event, and they should be treated as such-no matter how big or small. If you don’t have people cheering and recognising your efforts, be that person for yourself. When you often celebrate your wins, you can develop a success mindset and establish healthy self-care habits. Once you learn to celebrate yourself, the practice becomes easier, and you’ll be able to recognise and express gratitude for the minute steps you take daily.
When it comes to honouring your wins, there‘s no one size fits all. What techniques have you used to celebrate your accomplishments? Share them in the comments!
