Take a moment to celebrate.
Reflect on the achievements
you’ve made and
mark this moment as great —
because you’ve come this far
yet, this is not where
you’re meant to stay.
You’re going to go on, for sure
and one practice to surely keep you
on your way
is when you…
take a moment to celebrate.
In your words and phrases you
gather together to honor the path you’ve walked.
To talk of the arduous road you’ve trod.
To speak of how the world treated you,
and whipped you with it’s displeasures—
yet it stands in awe of you,
still standing here
in full measure.
Put those stories in your pocket today—
hold them tightly to your chest, and yes
take this moment to celebrate.
Right now—
Every heartache
Every hardship
Every pain
Ever knowing, they won’t remain.
And although definitely
they’ll come again,
you’ll receive them
with a new strength.
Because you’re made stronger
on the other side.
You’ll approach life
with a new vigor
and with a smile.
Grateful and full of gratitude
for the life you’ve lived.
So enjoy the present.
Stay in your integrity,
to continue to do your appointed work.
Moving towards the fullness of your joy
and all that awaits.
However, along the way, now
in pursuit of your highest potential,
...take this moment,
this one right here
...to celebrate.
One Thing to Create Good Habits
In Tiny Habits, B J Fogg tells us if there were only one thing he could teach us in creating positive habits, it would be ‘celebration,’ ‘authentic pride,’ that is after achieving something you say, ‘That’s like me.’
I believe my celebration technique is a breakthrough in habit formation. I hope you can see why. By skillfully celebrating, you create a feeling of Shine, which in turn causes your brain to encode the new habit.
If I could teach you Tiny Habits in person, I would start our training by focusing on celebrations. I would help you find celebrations that are natural and effective for you. We would practice them together and it would be a blast. I would train you in celebrations before teaching you about the Fogg Behavior Model, or the power of simplicity, or Anchors, or recipes for Tiny Habits. Celebrations would be first—because it’s the most important skill for creating habits.”
~ B J Fogg, Tiny Habits
And when you think about it, this is the counter voice to criticism or the critical voice we often hear in our ‘missing of achievements’.
Which one will you develop, in yourself, your community and your family?
“Twice I did good, and heard it never. Once I did bad, and heard it forever.”
The ‘Weight’ of Not Celebrating
In both my personal and professional experiences, I have come to realize that our mindset plays a crucial role in shaping our lives.
This is what I read in the journals of my high school students, as well as in the conversations of the adults at the lunch tables. These are the bouts I had myself, after sitting with such people (no blame or shame to them. I decided to sit there.)
The concept of 'good' or 'bad' is subjective and can vary from person to person. However, when we allow negative thoughts or beliefs to take root in our minds, we can ruminate and hinder our progress.
Let’s be vigilant and actively remove any disempowering beliefs before they become deeply ingrained. Protect yourself by:
- being selective about what you allow into your minds, and
- surrounding yourself with ‘energy giving influences’.
Personally, that means avoiding Reddit. What is it for you?
In a familiar phrase, ‘guard your inner citadel’.
Hype Yourself Up For You
Most people find it easy to get caught up in seeking validation from others and worrying about how we are perceived by them.
The truth is, people only see a fraction of who you truly are. So instead of living for the attention of others, focus on staying true to yourself and embracing your unique qualities.
Once you've cleared away disempowering beliefs, it becomes easier to define what you want in life. These processes may not happen sequentially, rather simultaneously.
Taking small steps forward each day allows us to make progress towards our goals. And at the end of each moment or day, let's be sure to celebrate ourselves and acknowledge the progress we've made –
be your own biggest cheerleader.
Remember, your mindset shapes your reality. So guard your thoughts, believe in yourself, and continue to walk your path to success (it’s NOT paved...let’s be real.)
