5 Reasons You MUST Celebrate Your Wins
If you’re reading this, chances are good that you’re a go-getter. As such, as soon as you hit one milestone or earn an accomplishment, you’re probably thinking about the next one, and take little, if any, time to celebrate your win. And why not? It's certainly not wrong to be ambitious. We live in a society that values achievement above most everything else, after all. It’d only feel natural to get right back to the grind in hot pursuit of the next goal.
However, as we celebrate our 5th anniversary here at Leadership Delta this month (yay!), we’ve learned a thing or two (or five) about the importance of celebrating wins, both big and small. As our anniversary gift to you, our readers and clients who helped us get this far and continue to inspire us to reach for greater heights, we’d like to share with you what we’ve learned about the crucial practice of celebrating your wins.
Celebrating your wins:
Prevents Burnout
As entrepreneurs and leaders, burnout is always lurking around the corner. Even a small celebration punctuates the busy life of leaders like yourself. However, it is a common practice among companies of all sizes to continuously grind without stopping to acknowledge progress on the way to achieving the next major milestone. This can be dangerous, as we flirt with burnout and constant stress when we do not take the time to come up for breath.
Makes You Stronger
When you celebrate, you release endorphins, which make you feel incredible. When you do not take the time to celebrate, you deny yourself the positive, healthy rush of accomplishment. There’s a saying in neuropsychology that states, “that which fires together, wires together," which means that the more often you perform a task, the stronger the connection becomes. The more adept you become at recognizing and celebrating your wins, the more you will feel like a winner, even when things get tough.
Provides Perspective
The key to endurance as we pursue our goals is accepting that we will not achieve them overnight. Taking a moment to celebrate a win gives you a chance to see how far you’ve come, which serves to remind you that success is a marathon, not a sprint. Gaining this kind of perspective can also help you remember what you love about your work and what it means to you.
Builds Connection
For many leaders, particularly women, celebrating wins may feel like dangerous territory, like tooting one’s own horn or seeking attention. But, celebrating successes does not need to be a blowout every time. Taking the time to write it down in a journal or calendar reinforces the connection you have to your work. Also, when you share your good news with a loved one or colleague, you build an interpersonal bond that can bolster as you pursue your next goal or achievement.
Creates Successful Habits
While you were working hard to achieve your latest accomplishment, you were implementing tactics and habits that you may not have even been aware of because you were so engrossed in the work. Taking the time to track your achievements and the practices that helped you get there create a blueprint for future success.
Celebrating wins boils down to showing appreciation for yourself and your hard work. When we show gratitude for what we have and achieve, we make room for even more success. Showing gratitude by celebrating your wins reminds you of how far you’ve come in your journey, and everything you have that has helped you reach your most recent milestone. We are here to help you reach your next win, and we consider it our honor and privilege to help you celebrate them! Contact us today to see what Leadership Delta can do for you.