May Celebrations
Celebrating Milestones and Daily Wins
This time of year usually feels equally exciting and challenging for me. I love that it’s getting warmer outside, nature is in full bloom, the days are longer, and people generally seem more joyful. It’s also my birth month, and this year I’m turning 30. While in the past few years I’ve avoided any type of celebration for my birthday, mainly because I dislike the overstimulation they cause for me, this year I want to (mindfully!) celebrate some personal milestones—and I’m inviting you to join me!
It's so easy to focus on what’s going "wrong" in our lives, especially when we succumb to the pointless habit of comparing our journeys to those of others. However, it’s much more rewarding to concentrate on what’s working out beautifully for us, and it’s a choice to do so. No matter the situation, we always get to choose how we perceive and respond to it. Instead of waiting for a win, how about we highlight the areas in our life where we’re already winning?
Now, this may sound like toxic positivity, but it’s quite the opposite: by celebrating our wins, we’re not suppressing other experiences or emotions. Rather, we're fully acknowledging all that is present for us right here and now. Instead of reacting as we usually would and taking on the role of a victim, we make a conscious choice to respond in a way that empowers us. Of course, that’s not always easy and requires constant practice.
Positive Reframing Example:
I’ve been working on establishing myself as an online yoga teacher for over a year now and am nowhere near to sustaining myself financially with only my online business. I work in retail four days a week, which is, and will be for a while, my main source of income. Despite charging very little for my online classes, interest in my offerings seems limited. I’m well aware that it’s a highly saturated market and the world doesn’t need yet another online course teaching people how to do a forward fold. But I have so much more to offer than that!
Alternatively, the same scenario could sound like this:
Just one year ago, I was dreaming of having my own website and teaching yoga online, which I now do regularly! I have a small community of great people committed to their practice and growth, who see great value in my offerings. I can grow my business organically because I have another job that sustains me financially and supports my personal plans and goals. I’m in no rush; I can take the time to learn from my "mistakes" and work towards creating a meaningful and transformational offering for my community. I’m enrolled in coaching that helps me achieve my goals with clarity and structure, and I have support for whatever I need. I’m following my dream, staying true to myself, and already helping people, which is all that matters to me.
Now it’s your turn!
Take a moment to sit down in silence and reflect on the broader situation you're in right now. What do your social life, career, mental health, emotional life, lifestyle, and/or everyday life look like? Embrace whatever comes up fully without judgment. Try to focus on one area at a time.
Write it down. Sketch out your current life situation in as much detail as you can. Try to be descriptive. This might be difficult at first, so be patient with yourself.
Next, reflect on what is important to you. What are your current goals in life? Focus on one area of your life at a time. If you’re not sure what your goals are, that’s okay. That just means this step will take a little longer. Take your time.
Now, rephrase what you wrote down in a way that highlights the parts of your life that are already taking you closer to your goals. Focus on the small changes that were not present one, two, or three years ago. There might be changes you’re less proud of; become aware of those, too. However, don’t let them diminish the power of the many little (and big) wins in your life. This is the time to shine a light on everything that is actually working in your favor.
Regularly celebrating our milestones and focusing on our daily wins (big and small) rewires our brain away from anxiety and toward gratitude and empowerment. Our inner life really is our own responsibility. We can either choose to wallow in self-pity or rejoice in the many miracles that life constantly presents us with.
Let’s find reasons to celebrate ourselves more often, shall we?
