You've worked hard to achieve your goals, whether they are personal, professional, or both. But how do you celebrate your accomplishments and stay motivated to keep pursuing your dreams? In this article, you'll learn some tips and strategies to reward yourself, reflect on your progress, and renew your enthusiasm for your next challenges.
Celebrating your accomplishments is not only a way to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but also a way to boost your confidence, self-esteem, and happiness. When you acknowledge your achievements, you reinforce the positive feedback loop that motivates you to keep going. You also remind yourself of the skills, strengths, and resources that you have developed along the way.
The role I have right now is not something I just brag about. It's hard earned. It wasn't always easy, and there were times when I doubted myself, but I persevered, learned, and grew along the way. Over the course of 17 years with my current company, I've experienced the ebb and flow of the professional world. I've seen trends come and go, technologies evolve, and markets shift. Yet, what has remained constant is my unwavering passion for helping people. This is the driving force that fuels my commitment and keeps me motivated day in and day out. I am always eager how human emotions work, unraveling the mysteries of what makes us tick. By understanding that, we can truly make a positive impact on people's lives
You can't have escaped the phrase 'Imposter Syndrome' in recent years. It's a term that refers to that nagging sense of self doubt around our abilities. No-one is immune and when it strikes, it can be paralysing. Celebrating successes and wins, no matter the size of the achievement is important for lots of reasons. And, for me, one of those is keeping the Imposter Syndrome ghouls at bay.
When it comes to celebrating your accomplishments, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Find something that is meaningful, authentic, and satisfying for you. Whether you choose to celebrate alone or with others, in a big or small way, in a formal or casual manner, make sure it feels special. Consider treating yourself to something you enjoy, such as a meal, a movie, a massage, or a new book. You can also share your success with your friends, family, colleagues, or mentors and express your gratitude for their support. Create a visual reminder of your accomplishment like a certificate, trophy, photo, or journal entry. Take some time off from your usual routine and do something fun, relaxing, or adventurous. Or if you’d like to give back to the community and the world around you, donate to a cause that you care about or volunteer for a service that aligns with your values.
Celebration comes in many forms and it depends on how it best helps you mark the moment. For some, it may be sharing the achievement with friends, family or peers. For others, a tangible reminder, such as printing out that certificate and framing it is the way to go. A method I particularly like, and use often, is the 'Happy Mailbox.' In my emails, I store all the positive feedback, thank yous and praise I receive at work. When I need a reminder of my capabilities or my contributions, I dip in and bask in some positivity.
You don't have to wait until you reach a big milestone or a final outcome to celebrate your accomplishments. Celebrating the small wins and progress made along the way can help you stay focused, motivated, and optimistic, even when facing challenges or setbacks. You could set specific criteria or indicators for when to celebrate, such as completing a task or project, reaching a target or benchmark, learning a new skill or concept, overcoming an obstacle or fear, and receiving positive feedback or recognition. Doing so can help keep you motivated and on track to reach your goals!
Celebration can come at the end of the project, when everything is finished. But equally, it can be important to celebrate smaller wins along the way. Breaking larger projects into mini milestones you can tick off is a way to gamify the process and score some much needed motivation to keep you pushing forward.
Celebrating your accomplishments is also an opportunity to reflect on your journey and your learning. Reflection can provide invaluable insights, help you identify areas for improvement, and plan your next steps. Asking yourself questions such as what you did well and enjoyed, what was challenging and how you coped, what you learned and how to apply it, what surprised you and what you discovered, and the key takeaways and lessons learned can all be beneficial.
While celebration is a positive experience, based on achievement, there's often other aspects to reflect on that perhaps could have been improved. Reflecting on the whole picture, while you're in the positive mindset, can help you tackle the less successful elements of the journey, along with the good, to help you find new ways to tackle those challenges in the future.
“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it.” I love this quote from H.E.Luccock. ?? As you celebrate your accomplishment, pause for a moment to consider your “team” - colleagues, mentors, friends and family who’ve been there for you. Recognizing those who’ve been part of your journey can evoke profound feelings of gratitude and can help beat loneliness in the workplace. Share the spotlight with your “team” by letting them know how their support has contributed to your success. You might just find that not only will this rekindle your own motivation, but it will also help those around you shine brighter as well.
Reflecting on your accomplishments can take various forms, depending on your preference, style, and purpose. You can choose to reflect alone or with others, in a verbal or written form, in a structured or spontaneous way. Writing a summary or report of your accomplishment is one way to reflect, as is creating a portfolio or showcase of your work. You could also have a conversation with someone who can give you constructive feedback and advice. Alternatively, you could record a video or audio of yourself explaining your accomplishment and reflections. Additionally, using tools such as SWOT analysis, SMART goal, or GROW framework can help guide your reflection.
Reflection doesn't have to be a solitary endeavour. In fact, it can help to bring in some outside perspective. Asking others who were involved in the project or situation you're reflecting on can give you a fresh, constructive take on where you exceeded expectations, tackled a challenge or delivered against a brief, as well as opportunities for future improvement, too.
Celebrating and reflecting on your accomplishments can help you renew your energy, enthusiasm, and vision for your future goals. This is a good opportunity to recharge your batteries, reconnect with your purpose, and recommit to your action plan. Consider reviewing and revising your vision and mission statement, setting new goals or adjusting existing ones based on the current situation and desired direction. Additionally, identify the resources and support that you need and seek them out. Furthermore, celebrate the accomplishments of others, learn from their experiences and best practices, seek new challenges and opportunities, and embrace them with curiosity and courage.
I have the privilege of leading a team in Sales, and many of them have been part of my journey for several years now. Interestingly, every time they face challenges and don't quite meet their sales targets, it serves as a unique source of inspiration for me. Rather than viewing these moments as setbacks, I see them as a motivation to step up my game as a leader. I want to set an example of resilience and dedication, demonstrating that we can overcome obstacles together. Continuously striving to make my team happy and fulfilled within the workplace is a personal mission of mine. I'm committed to this, understanding that there will be ups and downs, but the journey itself is what drives me to do better and to ensure that my team thrives.
I have a specific chocolate bar that reminds me of home because it is produced in the town where I was born. If you want to know the name, DM me... Whenever I want to treat myself, I eat one. I remember that even when I was in New York and France, I would look for it in the ethnic food section. As a kid, that was my reward from my parents. My brain associates that bar with the feeling of having done something good, and it really lifts my spirits.