The Why Behind My “Weekly Wins”
December 23, 2020
I was born in the 1990s. It was the decade of gold stars, participation trophies, and the need for someone to tell us we did a good job because no one taught us how to validate ourselves.
No wonder celebrating yourself feels overwhelming! Especially if you’re not used to it. It’s also confusing – when do I celebrate, how often should I praise myself for a job well done, and what does it look like to acknowledge my accomplishments?
Before I answer all of those questions for you, let me tell you a quick story.
The best boss I’ve ever had was my team leader when I was working as a Store Artist at Whole Foods. Instead of the typical horror stories you read of terrible management, she made a point to thank me and tell me I was doing a great job “every damn day” (one of her many catchphrases). I love that.
It was a pivotal way of thinking for me. She helped me realize it’s healthy to be proud. But, what can you do when you don’t have a boss who does that? Be that for yourself.
And if you’re not there yet, there’s always another option...
Celebration is a way to spread joy
Recently, I decided to post my “weekly wins” on my Instagram Story. I share small and large accomplishments or moments of success and encourage my community (AKA you!) to do the same. What started as a way to share what went right that week has snowballed into something so much more.
As a lover of color, bold lines, and large murals, I’m here to spread joy. I’m also here to remind you it’s healthy to show up and put yourself first. Because if you’re not recognizing how incredible you are, who is?
One thing I learned from sharing my “weekly wins” is this: People crave a safe space to celebrate themselves.
Our society doesn’t encourage it. In fact, it’s common for people to point out the negative over the positive. Why? The push for perfection.
Society tends to focus on the negative rather than the positive
Society pressures us to be perfect. When you understand this, it’s easy to see how this energy influences the way we operate in the world.
We’re so quick to criticize instead of building ourselves up. We’re quick to notice our shortcomings, the clients we didn’t land, and the goals we didn’t reach. We don’t need to do this. Instead, celebrate yourself as often as you can! Get excited about the things that went right, the clients who loved the work you did, and the goals you soared past.
One thing I want to make clear: It’s not selfish to be proud of yourself.
When you have self-love, compassion, and acceptance for both who you are and what you accomplish, you can exude that out into your community. It’s literally a win-win situation.
Designers are incredibly hard on themselves
It’s common for designers to fall into the trap of perfectionism, overwhelm, burnout, and not feeling enough. This is why it’s so important for you to recognize your accomplishments, especially as a designer.
This ideal of perfection and never feeling enough is what I’m aiming to bring awareness to within the design industry. If something as simple as saying, “I’m proud of myself for this thing this week,” can help then we should all be doing it.
If you want to go big, share your own weekly wins with me and my community of other designers and creatives. If you prefer privacy, a gratitude journal is a great way to do a check-in with yourself.
Personally, I celebrate my wins by writing them down in my journal and sharing them with my community through Instagram. You get to do whatever feels good to you.
When it comes to your business, I think it’s important to commemorate what went right at least once a month or once a quarter when you’re checking in on your progress and goals. This helps you reflect and assess your actions moving forward.
For instance, my coach suggested I sit down one day a year – birthday, work anniversary, new year, etc. – and write down all my accomplishments. When I listed things out, I quickly realized, “Damn! I accomplished more than I give myself credit for.”
If I can do it, I know you can too. It’s time we recognize how badass we are and not be afraid to shine a spotlight on ourselves for who we are.
Celebration should be normalized
You’re your biggest advocate. It’s up to you to be proud of yourself and happy with where you are. You can’t rely on external validation to give you what you need.
So, let yourself feel good about the money you made this year, the projects you completed, and the time you were able to donate to an organization you love.
The tip to normalize celebration? Do it more often. Bring attention to your big wins and your small wins. Why? The small ones add up.
Big wins are transparent. They’re out there for all people to see. But the small wins? The little ones that make our day-to-day better? Not everyone knows about them. Just like we openly share our struggles, we also get to openly acknowledge our accomplishments.
It’s about balance. If you feel like your inner critic is being extra loud this week or things aren’t working out as you planned, start noticing what you are happy about and what is going right. You start to notice growth quickly when you recognize the positives more regularly.
Journal prompts to help you celebrate your own “weekly wins”
Is it difficult for you to feel accomplished? Start small. The more you notice what you’re celebrating, the more it becomes about who you are, not what you do. Soon you’ll experience some amazing side effects like feeling enough and appreciating yourself more.
Here’s a few journal prompts to help you get started.
I didn’t always feel as good about myself as I currently do. I let the negative weigh me down. Now, I feel like a badass on the regular because I take the time to praise myself.
Beginner to Business Badass can help you get there too. It’s a self-guided course for designers like you who feel clueless about how to create a balanced business and are ready to feel confident and make an impact. You’re worth celebrating!
